7 Chicago Sexual Trauma Therapists [No Waitlist]
Sexual assault and childhood abuse can shape who we trust, how safe we feel in our own bodies, and the ways we move through relationships, intimacy, and daily life. The impact of trauma is often long-lasting, and healing usually requires more than simply โmoving on.โ
Doing this kind of trauma work requires specialization in understanding how deeply being harmed by others can affect a personโs sense of safety, connection, and self. At Watch Hill Therapy in downtown Chicago, this is our area of focus.
Our sexual trauma therapists offer compassionate, trauma-informed support for adults navigating the effects of sexual abuse, assault, and other deeply violating experiences. Weโre currently accepting new clients and would be honored to support you in your healing process.
Many people continue to experience the effects of sexual trauma in their bodies, relationships, and sense of safety.
Sexual trauma affects people in a range of ways, often across both body and mind. For many people, it can show up in ways like:
"I'm fine most of the time, and then something sets me off, and I'm right back there."
"I can't be touchedโor be close to my partnerโwithout freezing up."
"Part of me still thinks it was my fault."
"I never really relax. I'm always waiting for something bad to happen."
"I want to trust people, but I just can't let anyone in."
"I feel disconnected from my own body, like I'm watching my life from the outside."
These responses are common after sexual trauma and reflect how the nervous system learns to protect itself after harm. With the right therapist, these patterns can heal.
Jump to a therapist
Sabrina Mirza: Best for BIPOC individuals healing from sexual trauma
Aspen Fultz: Best for LGBTQIA+ individuals healing from sexual trauma
Caitlin Lawler: Best for EMDR therapy for sexual trauma
Joseline Gonzalez: Best for bilingual (English/Spanish) sexual trauma therapy
Jenna Salsedo: Best for sexual trauma therapy for couples
Angie Zara: Best for co-occurring sexual trauma and substance use
Kaitlyn Rippel: Best for sexual trauma therapy for children and teens
Meet our Chicago sexual abuse therapists
Sabrina Mirza
Best for BIPOC individuals healing from sexual trauma
I specialize in supporting adults whose trauma intersects with identity, including BIPOC and ethnocultural experiences. My work follows an anti-oppressive framework rooted in consent, collaboration, compassion, and curiosity, because survivors deserve a space where nothing is ever forced. My whole treatment is based on being trauma-specialized and using both body-based trauma-specific modalities in addition to ACT, DBT, and CPT to help you reclaim safety in your body and your story, fully at your own pace.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #149026874
Specialty Areas: Complex trauma, BIPOC and intersectional identities, systemic oppression, grief and loss, anxiety and depression
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
Aspen Fultz
Best for LGBTQIA+ individuals healing from sexual trauma
Healing from sexual trauma can already be challenging enough. Layer in exploring your sexual and gender identity, and it can feel nearly impossible to understand yourself and how you relate to others. Iโm passionate about supporting members of the LGBTQIA+ community with exactly this journey. Sexual abuse can fracture your relationship with your own identity and body, and I offer an affirming, grounded space to gently put those pieces back together.
Credentials: Licensed Social Worker
Specialty Areas: Sexual and gender identity, LGBTQIA+ survivors, developmental and relational trauma, PTSD, parenting transitions
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
Caitlin Lawler
Best for EMDR therapy for sexual trauma
If you carry the impact of sexual violence, childhood abuse, or domestic violence, my EMDR training was built for exactly this work. Trauma lives in the body as much as the mind, and EMDR, paired with an attachment-based and Internal Family Systemsโinformed lens, helps your nervous system finally process what it has been holding. I move at a pace that feels safe to you, helping you rebuild self-trust and a steady sense of internal safety.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor #180018041, EMDR trained
Specialty Areas: Sexual violence, childhood abuse, domestic violence, attachment and relational trauma
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
Joseline Gonzalez
Best for bilingual (English/Spanish) sexual trauma therapy
As a bilingual therapist, I create space for survivors who have too often felt unheard. I work with children, adolescents, and adults impacted by complex traumaโincluding sexual abuseโand bring particular care to clients who are neurodivergent or living with intellectual disabilities, populations frequently overlooked in trauma care. I tailor every session to who you are, helping you understand your feelings and rebuild trust in yourself.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor #180017511
Specialty Areas: Complex trauma, neurodivergent and intellectually disabled survivors, depression, anxiety, ADHD
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
Jenna Salsedo
Best for sexual trauma therapy for couples
Feeling truly heard is often the first step toward healing, so I listen deeply. As a trauma-informed therapist working with both individuals and couples, I help survivors of sexual trauma process the past, rebuild trust, and reconnect with themselves and the people they love. Sexual abuse can leave you feeling disconnected from your partner or your own body, so together, we create a safe, nonjudgmental space and practical tools you can carry well beyond our sessions.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #149030785
Specialty Areas: Trauma, relationship issues, rebuilding trust and intimacy, relational disconnection
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
Angie Zara
Best for co-occurring sexual trauma and substance use
I believe healing from sexual trauma should never feel forced. I work with adults navigating trauma and addiction using a strengths-based, harm-reduction approach that meets you exactly where you are. Survivors often cope in ways the world misunderstands, but I honor your pace and your choices without judgment. Iโm here to help you tap into your own resilience and move toward the change you want.
Credentials: Licensed Professional Counselor
Specialty Areas: Trauma, substance use, relationship issues, anxiety and depression, grief
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
Kaitlyn Rippel
Best for sexual trauma therapy for children and teens
When a young person has experienced sexual abuse, they often can't put it into words, so I meet them where they are: through play therapy, mind-body integration, distress tolerance skills, and gentle psychoeducation that fits their age and stage. My years as a school social worker also give me real expertise in supporting autistic and neurodivergent kids through trauma.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #149026332
Specialty Areas: Trauma, children and teens, play therapy, grief and loss, autism and neurodivergence
Availability: Virtual and in-person in Chicago
What sets our practice apart from other Chicago sexual trauma treatment providers
Trauma and dissociation specialists with 14 years of dedicated experience. This isn't a side focus for us; it's the core of our work.
Recognized leaders in beyond-trauma-informed care, teaching and training other Chicago clinicians how to treat survivors with depth and skill.
A diverse team across identities, languages, and modalities, so you can find a therapist who genuinely fits who you are.
Treatment for the whole system. We offer support for individuals, couples, children, and families.
Somatic and body-based integration alongside talk therapy, honoring the reality that trauma lives in the body, not only the mind.
Evening, weekend, and hybrid (in-person or telehealth) availability in the heart of downtown Chicago.
FAQs about therapy for sexual abuse
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There's not just one best type of therapy for sexual trauma. The right approach depends on your specific experiences, needs, goals, and preferences. Our team uses a blend of methods including attachment-based therapy, somatic and body-based work, relational trauma therapy, and dissociative parts work, tailoring the work to each individual. What matters more than a particular modality is finding a therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to do the work.
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Trauma isn't only a memory in the mind, it's held in the nervous system and the body. Survivors often notice it as chronic tension, a clenched gut, shallow breathing, hypervigilance, or numbness. Lasting healing usually involves somatic and body-based approaches, not just talking through what happened.
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Yes. Healing doesn't mean forgetting what happened, just that your past experiences no longer dictate how you show up in the present. With the right trauma-informed support, survivors reclaim safety in their bodies, rebuild trust, and rediscover connection and joy. The nervous system is remarkably capable of change.
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Yes, sexual trauma therapy is often covered by insurance. At Watch Hill Therapy, we're in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. If you have other insurance, we can provide a superbill to submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement.