Question for therapists or adult survivors of sexual abuse?

Question by lost_but_not_hopeless: Question for therapists or adult survivors of sexual abuse?
I have been considering the option of encouraging my girlfriend to seek some kind of professional help in regards to events from her past.
It is a very difficult and complicated situation.
Her stepfather drugged her mother for the sole purpose of being alone with her. She endured repeated rape and all kinds of abuse from this guy over a period of 2-3 years. He threatened her life to keep her silent. She was too scared to face him in court and he was free after just 16 months in jail. I believe she was 11-14 years old at the time. She is 22 now and just beginning the process of recovery. It has been a very
difficult period of time for her filled with many negative coping mechanisms.
I would appreciate anybody TRAINED in such things to offer some input. I would also like to hear from anyone that has had a similar experience and has had some kind of positive result come of it. What worked and what didn’t.
We are in a very loving, and open relationship. She would like some help.

Best answer:

Answer by blue
This is tough. As an adult survivor of abuse, I know how hard and difficult this is, but you have taken the first step and that is facing the fears and talking about it. She needs to know that NOTHING she did brought this on, this is not her disease but the attackers. Keeping a daily journal helps alot. Reliving the experience and the emotions she felt will help to calm down the fear and intensityThe more she writes about it, the less prominent it will become.people said speaking up to the attacker will help but i didnt think so. I spoke to a psych dr but I dont think that helped either. I went to church and that is what has helped. Having god with me and praying for relief of the trauma has helped a ton. I took antidepressants for awhile-about a year-and then went off them, that helped. I will pray for you, you can thru this, only time will and God can take that away.

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