The Sound of Surviving: A Survivor's Medical Journey After Sexual Trauma and a Psychologist's Perspective
This workshop explores how sexual trauma can impact the body long after abuse, often beyond conscious awareness. Through Melanie’s story and Dr. Saar’s clinical insight, participants examine the mind–body connection, non-linear healing, and the vital role of trauma-informed medical care in survivor recovery.
Suggested Audience: All CAC & MDT Members
Full Description: This workshop provides an understanding of how sexual trauma can impact the body, in many cases, outside of the victim's awareness. The audience will hear Melanie’s story of sexual abuse and the long-term physical impact, and the importance of her community of medical providers and advocates. Dr. Saar will explain the psychological connection between Melanie’s trauma and pelvic pain.
After healing for many years and sharing her story across the country and working in the field for over 10 years, Melanie realized there was one more piece that she had not dealt with. Healing is not linear; Melanie will bravely share her experience about how another traumatic event spurred her on to face something she swore she never would. She will walk you through her diagnosis of Vaginismus, Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction 15 years after experiencing sexual trauma, and the deep healing she now walks in after getting treatment and advocating for herself in the medical community. She used her voice and experience to let other survivors and women know that they are not alone, that healing is possible, and to emphasize how crucial and important the medical component of Child Advocacy Centers, Forensic Exams and Forensic Nursing is for the survivor’s journey to wholeness and healing after such a violation.
Learning Objectives:
Understand how crucial the medical component and medical community support and advocacy is to sexual abuse/assault cases for healing from the survivor’s perspective, even years down the road of the survivor’s journey.
Analyze the research and intersection between medical care and psychological healing, as conveyed by a Licensed Psychologist.
Enhance current practice of trauma-informed care using joint survivor and psychologist perspectives, and provide survivors with tools through medical practice to advocate for themselves at any point on their healing journey.
Speaker(s): Melanie Barton & Dr. Timothy Saar
