When Your Attacker Is An Authority Figure: Healing From Sexual Assault

We've heard the statistics. One in every four women in America has experenced some form of sexual assault. This is an alarming statistic, because that means 25% of women are walking around with invisible emotional wounds that affect the ability to form bonds of trust. There is no worse violation than sexual violation, and today's society has just begun to undestand the long term effects.  Its even more devastating when perpetrated by a trusted authority figure, who often goes unpunished. Daniel Holtzclaw, an Oklahoma City Police officer, was accused of sexually assaulting or raping 13 women while he was on the job. While assaulting them, he reportedly taunted them, saying, "No one will ever believe you." How do you heal from an attack when the perpetrator is never accused, never admits wrong, never is held accountable and is never punished in any way? How do you heal from the anger and sense of injustice? Thankfully, Holtzclaw was fired, tried and found guilty of the crimes. He was recently sentenced to 263 years.  But many officers who are sex offenders are still walking the streets, untried and unpunished. How do cope when your attacker is still walking around free? How do you keep the feeling of violation from affecting your own self esteem and sense of self worth?