Is Online Therapy Right for You? A Healing Guide for Young Adult Survivors of Sexual Trauma

Posted: July 15, 2025

Being a young adult is already full of pressure—from figuring out who you are to managing school, work, and relationships. If you’ve experienced sexual trauma, those pressures can feel even heavier. You might find yourself constantly on edge, disconnected from your body, avoiding closeness, or wondering if you’ll ever feel “normal” again.

If you’ve been thinking about therapy but feel unsure, overwhelmed, or just not ready to walk into a clinic, online therapy might be a gentle place to start—on your terms, in your space, at your pace.

What Is Online Therapy—and Is It Legit?

Online therapy (also called virtual counselling, teletherapy, or e-therapy) is a way to connect with a licensed therapist over a secure video platform. It’s similar to Zoom or FaceTime, but it’s completely private and built specifically for healthcare use.

At New Moon Psychotherapy, we use a secure platform called Jane, which is PHIPPA-compliant and easy to use. You’ll receive a link 30 minutes before your session and can join from your phone, laptop, or tablet—wherever you feel safest.

If video feels uncomfortable, phone sessions are also available.

And yes—online therapy is effective. Research shows that it works just as well as in-person therapy for trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles. For many of our clients, especially survivors, it feels even safer.

Why Online Therapy Can Feel Safer for Survivors of Sexual Violence

Many of our young adult clients tell us that online therapy helps them open up more easily—especially when unpacking painful or deeply personal experiences.

When you’re working through sexual trauma, it makes a difference to be able to:

Choose your own space—your room, your bed, your couch
Have grounding tools, comfort items, or pets nearby
Avoid the anxiety of traveling to a clinic or sitting in a waiting room
Skip the need to commute through public spaces, which can feel unsafe or triggering after trauma
Recover in a familiar environment after an emotionally intense session
Take breaks when you need to, without needing to “keep it together” in a public setting

Online therapy removes some of the barriers that can stop survivors from accessing help. It lets you stay in control, protect your nervous system, and begin healing in ways that feel safe and manageable.

What Can We Talk About in Online Therapy for Sexual Trauma?

You don’t need to have it all figured out. Therapy is a space to be messy, confused, curious, grieving, angry, or numb. You don’t need to be “doing badly enough” to reach out.

Some of the things you might want to explore include:

How your experience has affected trust, relationships, or sex
Flashbacks, dissociation, body numbness, or feeling out of control
Shame, self-blame, or fear of being “too much”
Struggles with boundaries, assertiveness, or saying no
Low desire, pain during sex, or fear of intimacy
Navigating hookup culture or dating after trauma
Reclaiming your voice, your pleasure, or your sense of self

Therapies That Support Healing

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing. At New Moon Psychotherapy, our therapists are deeply experienced in working with survivors (it’s why they’re on our team!) and will always collaborate with you to choose the approach that fits best.

We draw from a range of trauma-informed, evidence-based therapies, including:

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) – for working through unhelpful beliefs and trauma-related thoughts
Internal Family Systems (IFS) – to explore your inner world and meet different “parts” of yourself with curiosity and compassion
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – to build emotional regulation, boundary-setting, and coping skills. We also offer DBT for PTSD, which integrates trauma processing with DBT strategies to help reduce flashbacks, dissociation, and emotional overwhelm
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) – to help your brain and body process what happened in a safe, contained way
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to help you make space for difficult emotions, reconnect with your values, and build a meaningful life after trauma
Narrative Therapy – to help you reclaim your story and make meaning on your own terms

These approaches can support you in feeling safer in your body, building healthier relationships, and gently moving forward—without pressure, shame, or judgment.

We move at your pace. Nothing is forced. You’re allowed to take your time.

Getting Started Is Simple

We know that reaching out for therapy can feel scary. That’s why we’ve made the process as gentle and accessible as possible:

Book a free consultation or first session
Receive a secure link via email before your appointment
Join from your phone, tablet, or laptop—wherever feels best for you
Choose video or phone, whichever feels more comfortable

If you’re worried about finding privacy at home or managing your emotions after a session, we can talk through options to make the space feel more supportive.

You Deserve Support

Sexual trauma can shake your sense of safety, your ability to trust, and your relationship with your own body. But healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.

You don’t need to have the “right” words. You don’t need to be in crisis.
You’ve already survived so much—and reaching out is a powerful act of care.

If you’re ready to explore therapy, we’re here to meet you exactly where you are.
Reach out today to book a free consultation or ask any questions. No pressure. No judgment. Just support.