What is Sexual Violence?

Sexual violence occurs when someone uses sex as a weapon to gain power and control over someone else. Any sexual behavior into which one is forced, tricked or coerced is sexual violence.

There are many different types of sexual violence. Some examples include incest, sexual harassment, child sexual abuse, stalking, ritual sexual abuse, pornography related abuse, prostitution, sexual exploitation by professionals, rape by a stranger, acquaintance rape and marital/partner rape. 

Whatever form sexual violence takes, it is never the victim’s fault. If you have experienced sexual violence, SVC is here to believe and support you. Call 612-871-5100 24 hours a day to speak with an advocate.

SVC is committed to serving a diverse community. Interpreters are available for anyone with limited English skills.

Common Questions and Feelings Survivors Have

Why did this happen to me?
You didn't do anything wrong. It's not your fault. Your power was taken away by someone else. Sexual violence can happen to anyone.

When will I be okay? When will this be over? When will I stop feeling so bad?
We understand how hard it is. To think an action of another can cause all this pain. You did survive. You are strong and courageous. It isn't fair. You're not alone. There is no blueprint for healing time. It's on your own time schedule, and we're here to help you.

How do I get over this?
No one was taught how to heal from a trauma, so it's scary. There are no simple 10 steps to healing, but healing is happening. You survived. You've taken steps toward healing in talking about it . That is a very important healing tool.

No one understands!
We are here for you to talk to, to understand. You are not alone. This is a common feeling of survivors.

I feel like I am going crazy!
You are not crazy. You are dealing with a "crazy" difficult situation. What you are feeling is normal. Many survivors feel these feelings. You can heal. You can take control of your life.

It wasn't that big of a deal.
What happened is a life altering trauma. Help she/he understand the danger and seriousness of the assault. It was a big deal and will affect her/him.

I'm just imagining this. This couldn't really have happened.
We have heard that a lot. It's hard to believe something so awful and so painful, but our experiences have been that these sorts of memories are usually true. We block memories of painful experiences until we're ready to process and heal from them.  

Are counselors and advocates at SVC victim/survivors?
We get this question a lot. We are here to focus on your experience. We can say people do heal from sexual assault and go on with their lives experiencing joy, success, and happiness. We're here to listen and understand.