Episode description

Seventy percent of adults have experienced one or more traumatic events in their lifetime, with sexual trauma being among the most common forms. There’s a popular narrative in the media that trauma fundamentally changes our bodies and brains, which can give the impression that trauma never resolves. However, there is hope. On today’s show, we’re going to discuss how to heal and move beyond sexual trauma. We’ll also talk about tips for navigating relationships when one partner has a history of trauma.

My guest is Amanda Jepson, a Licensed Professional Counselor and ASSECT-Certified Sex Therapist. She is one of the co-founders of the non-profit Respark Foundation, a Clinical Therapist at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Veterans Health and Trauma Clinic, and a lecturer for the University of Colorado-Denver.

Some of the specific questions we explore in this episode include:

• What does the term “sexual trauma” mean in a clinical context?
• What are some of the most common impacts of sexual trauma?
• How can individuals who have experienced trauma learn to reconnect with their bodies?
• What kinds of treatments do sex therapists use in cases of sexual trauma?
• How do you bring up the topic of trauma with a romantic partner?
• How can you be a supportive partner to someone with a history of trauma?

To learn more about the Respark Foundation, you can click here to visit their website.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.