After an experience of sexual assault or trafficking, seeking medical care can be an important part of healing. It can also feel overwhelming, frightening, or even triggering. Many survivors hesitate to go to the doctor because they fear being judged, not believed, or retraumatized.
If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. You deserve care that honors your boundaries, listens to your story, and understands how trauma affects both the body and mind. This is what trauma-informed medical care means and finding it can make all the difference in your recovery.
Trauma-Informed Medical Care Can Help You
Trauma-informed care is an approach that recognizes the lasting impact of trauma and actively works to create safety, trust, and empowerment in every interaction.
Instead of focusing only on physical symptoms, trauma-informed providers consider the whole person. They understand that medical settings can feel vulnerable, and that survivors may react differently to exams, questions, or touch.
This type of care can help you with:
- Safety: Creating an environment (both physical and emotional) where you feel secure.
- Trustworthiness: Providers communicate clearly and respect your privacy.
- Choice: You have control over what happens during your appointment.
- Collaboration: You’re a partner in your care, not just a patient.
- Empowerment: Your strengths and resilience are recognized and supported.
Remember that you are not a diagnosis. You are a person deserving compassion, dignity, and healing.
This Type of Care really Matters
Ordinary medical settings can unintentionally cause distress. A sudden touch, a closed door, or certain questions may trigger memories of past abuse. Without understanding trauma, some healthcare providers might misinterpret these reactions as anxiety, defiance, or even noncompliance.
Trauma-informed providers know how to avoid those mistakes. They approach each patient with sensitivity, patience, and flexibility. They check in before exams, ask for consent before touching, and explain each step in clear, gentle language. This kind of care helps your body heal while supporting your emotional recovery, too.
Where to Find Trauma-Informed Medical Care
Finding the right provider can take time, but there are organizations and resources that can help you locate supportive professionals.
Start With Sexual Assault and Trafficking Response Centers
Many hospitals and clinics have Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) or Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (SAFE) programs. These nurses and clinicians are trained specifically to care for survivors. They can provide medical treatment, collect forensic evidence if you choose, and connect you to follow-up services.
If you’re not sure where to find one, you can:
- Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1-800-656-4673) to locate a SANE or SAFE program near you.
- Contact a local crisis center or trafficking survivor advocacy group for referrals.
Ask About Trauma-Informed Practices When Scheduling Appointments
When calling a new provider, it’s okay to ask:
- “Do your doctors or nurses have experience working with survivors of trauma or assault?”
- “Can I bring a support person with me?”
- “Can I ask to stop or take breaks during an exam?”
The way the staff answers can tell you a lot about whether they understand trauma-informed care. You deserve to feel safe from the very first phone call.
Seek Recommendations from Survivor Networks or Advocates
Advocacy organizations, survivor-led groups, and social service agencies often keep lists of compassionate providers. They can help you find doctors, dentists, gynecologists, or therapists who practice trauma-informed care and respect survivors’ needs.
If You’re in Immediate Need of Medical Care
If you’ve recently experienced an assault and need urgent medical attention, go to a hospital emergency department or contact a local crisis hotline. You have the right to:
- Receive treatment for injuries or health concerns.
- Request a SANE/SAFE exam if you choose to collect evidence.
- Decline any part of an exam that makes you uncomfortable.
- Ask for an advocate to accompany you.
Even if you’re not ready to involve law enforcement, you can still receive medical care and support.
How to Feel Safe During Medical Visits
Medical settings can be triggering for survivors, but there are ways to make appointments feel safer and more in your control.
- Bring a support person. A trusted friend, advocate, or family member can provide comfort and help communicate your needs.
- Ask questions before and during the visit. You have the right to know what will happen and why.
- Set boundaries. You can ask providers to pause or stop at any time. Saying “no” or “I need a break” is always okay.
- Write down your concerns. Bringing notes can help you remember what you want to discuss, especially if you feel nervous.
- Remind yourself: You are not responsible for the trauma you’ve experienced, and you deserve care that respects your boundaries.
Continuing Care and Healing
Ongoing medical care after trauma can include physical checkups, therapy, or specialized treatment for chronic pain, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress. Healing doesn’t happen in one appointment. You will see it unfold over time.
Look for providers who:
- Treat you with empathy and patience.
- Check in about your emotional comfort as well as your physical health.
- Encourage collaboration in your treatment plan.
You may also find it helpful to build a team that includes both medical and mental health professionals. Together, they can help you regain trust in your body, rebuild strength, and support your long-term healing.
When to Seek Legal Support
Sometimes, part of healing involves holding those responsible accountable, whether that’s an individual abuser or an institution that allowed harm to happen.
If you experienced assault or trafficking and suspect that an organization, employer, school, or other institution failed to protect you, you may have legal options.
Connecting with a sexual assault lawyer can help you understand:
- Your rights as a survivor.
- How to pursue compensation for medical care, therapy, and other damages.
- What steps can be taken to ensure accountability and prevent future harm.
At Stronger Than, we work alongside survivors to connect them with compassionate, trauma-informed legal partners who understand the complexities of these cases. Seeking justice is deeply personal, and you never have to walk that path alone.
Take your time. Ask questions. Bring someone you trust. And remember: you are not alone.
At Stronger Than, we’re here to help connect you to safe, compassionate medical and legal resources so you can continue your journey toward healing—on your own terms, at your own pace.
