Sexual Abuse Treatment on St Simons Islands, Georgia

Sexual abuse during childhood, adolescence and even adulthood can create long lasting impacts on someone’s every day life. Mental health treatment can make a difference.

Sexual abuse is one form of child abuse. It includes a wide range of actions between a child and an adult or older child. Often these involve body contact but not always—exposing one’s genitals to children, pressuring them for sex or using a child for pornography is also sexual abuse.

Most sexual abusers know the child they abuse. They may be family friends, neighbors or even babysitters. About one-third of abusers are related to the child, and most abusers are men. If you think a child may have been abused, it’s important to report it as soon as possible.

• Sudden changes in behavior
• Substance use 
• Fear of being left alone with a specific person 
• Fear of specific places 
• Sexualized behavior during play 
• Advanced knowledge of sexual terms 
• Social isolation 
• Depression 
• Anxiety 
• Physical symptoms

• Listen to Them: Your life experiences likely differ from those of a survivor of sexual abuse, so it is important to listen and avoid inserting your thoughts and feelings into their experiences. Remember, even just talking about something traumatic can be helpful. 
• Be Positive: Don’t be dismissive or negative to their thoughts and feelings, as this could cause the survivor to take a step back when it comes to speaking about their experience and healing. 
• Seek Professional Help: Professional help can make a difference, and encouraging a survivor to seek guidance from a mental health professional is one of the best available options. 

Our facility in Georgia provides behavioral health care for survivors of sexual abuse with treatment programs for adults, adolescents and a women’s program.

Psychiatric treatment services at St Simons By-The-Sea can benefit adults who are struggling with mental health disorders, including those that are brought on by sexual abuse. Our inpatient treatment services provide around-the-clock care, and outpatient treatment can provide support services after inpatient treatment or less intensive care.

Our adolescent psychiatric treatment program in Southern Georgia provides inpatient behavioral health care for children and teens ages 10-17. Our therapeutic environment utilizes principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and solution-focused therapy to help your loved one take positive steps forward. 

The women’s program at St Simons By-The-Sea is designed specifically for the unique needs of adult women struggling with mental health issues. Our trauma-informed approach can provide everything from crisis intervention, to one-on-one support and medication management, to even discharge planning. 

If you or a loved one is in need of sexual abuse counseling or mental health treatment stemming from sexual abuse in Southern Georgia, St Simons By-The-Sea is here for you. Call us today at 800-821-7224 or contact us to get the mental health help you need, now. 

If you are experiencing sexual abuse and need help, please call 9-1-1.