Episode Details
Back to EpisodesSexual Assault: What Every Woman Should Know
Description
Most people are taught what rape is, but almost no one is taught what to do if it happens to them. That gap costs survivors options, time, and peace, especially in the first hours when shock takes over and the instinct is to scrub everything away.
We sit down with Jillie Maria, who shares her lived experience of being raped by her boyfriend and the years it took before the trauma fully surfaced again. We talk candidly about dissociation, numbness, shame, and the moment she finally walked into a rape crisis center and said the words out loud. She describes what helped her start healing and why three simple words from a counselor can change everything: “I believe you.”
You’ll also hear practical, survivor-centered guidance: what evidence preservation really means, why people say “don’t shower,” what a rape kit and SANE exam involve, and how reporting can be separate from prosecution depending on where you live. We break down rape vs. sexual assault definitions, why consent has to be explicit, and why so many survivors second-guess themselves when the person who harmed them is someone they know. We also explore long-term sexual trauma recovery, including body memory, triggers, therapy, group support, boundaries, and the hard but freeing question: what would justice look like for you?
For a free resource from today's guest: Jillie Maria | Trauma & E-motion Coach. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more survivors can find support.
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