Sexual Abuse / Trauma Archives

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma

May 11, 2026 by Tabitha Westbrook

Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy be Helpful in Treating Trauma? Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has become an easy target in online trauma spaces, and some of that criticism is earned. CBT is structured talk therapy built around the link between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and it is heavily researched and widely covered by insurance. The problem […]

Filed Under: Abuse/Neglect, Anxiety, Sexual Abuse / Trauma, Trauma, Trauma / PTSD Tagged With: complex trauma healing, domestic abuse recovery, emotional abuse awareness, healing from trauma, mental health counseling, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, stress management, trauma and PTSD wake forest, Trauma Healing, trauma recovery

Coercive Control Deep Dive

May 9, 2026 by Tabitha Westbrook

What is Coercive Control? Coercive control is a much better name for domestic abuse, domestic violence, or interpersonal violence because many people still picture abuse as only physical or sexual violence. The reality is that coercive control is a sustained pattern of power and control that slowly erodes another person’s autonomy, agency, and sense of […]

Filed Under: Abuse/Neglect, Couples/Marriage, Sexual Abuse / Trauma, Trauma, Trauma / PTSD Tagged With: coercive control, complex trauma healing, domestic abuse recovery, emotional abuse awareness, healing from trauma, healthy relationships, relationship red flags, trauma therapy

Finding Your Calm: A Dysregulation Toolkit

February 9, 2026 by Tabitha Westbrook

Dysregulation Toolkit Life sometimes stacks itself into heavy weeks where the nervous system sprints from one alarm to the next. When that happens, most of us try to push through, only to find our focus fades and our bodies tighten. This conversation invites a slower, kinder approach: grounded awareness paired with small, repeatable actions that […]

Filed Under: Sexual Abuse / Trauma, Trauma, Trauma / PTSD, Uncategorized

Romance Fiction Red Flags: Unpacking Harmful Tropes in Fictional Love Stories (Part 1)

November 14, 2025 by Tabitha Westbrook

Written by Gwen Soat, LCMHCA Romance Fiction – Part 1 Falling in love through romance fiction is a common pastime for many creatives and story-lovers alike. We read of star-crossed lovers defying the odds, of enemies-to-lovers who choose each other despite their flaws, and friends who find each other to be so much more. Fictional […]

Filed Under: Abuse/Neglect, Addiction, Couples/Marriage, Sex, Sexual Abuse / Trauma, Trauma, Trauma / PTSD Tagged With: codependency, coercive control, emotional abuse awareness, gaslighting, healing from trauma, healthy relationships, jealousy in relationships, love and boundaries, mental health counseling, possessiveness, relationship red flags, romance fiction, romance fiction red flags, romantic obsession, therapy for women, Trauma Healing, trauma recovery, unhealthy relationship tropes

Your Partner is Not a Narcissist

August 11, 2025 by Tabitha Westbrook

Why “Narcissistic Abuse” Is the Wrong Label for Abusive Relationships The internet is flooded with content about “narcissistic abuse.” A simple search reveals countless YouTube channels, podcasts, and articles dedicated to this single term. While it’s become a convenient shorthand in our cultural lexicon, labeling an abusive partner as a “narcissist” or “covert narc” or […]

Filed Under: Abuse/Neglect, Sexual Abuse / Trauma Tagged With: coercive control, domestic abuse recovery, narcissistic abuse, trauma and PTSD wake forest, trauma recovery