Dr. Colleen Cira is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in Women and Trauma. Here are a few things she would say about Sexual Violence/Assault/Abuse:
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You could do or say anything to “deserve” it.
- No one EVER deserves this. Ever.
- What you were wearing, what you said, what you didn’t say, if you were into it just a few minutes before it went too far—none of it matters.
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You should’ve said no/run away/told someone sooner.
- Your body may not have let you.
- Understand basic info on how our nervous system sometimes gets in the way of protecting ourselves.
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Sexual violence is a woman’s problem.
- It’s not. It’s a man’s problem. It’s a society’s problem. It’s a humanitarian problem—because it’s a SYSTEMIC problem and it needs a systematic solution.
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If you liked your perpetrator, dated your perpetrator, was married to your perpetrator, etc., then he couldn’t have assaulted you.
- Obviously, this isn’t true, but most people are confused about what “consent” actually is.
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If you were a child when you were assaulted, but you “liked” it, then it wasn’t abuse.
- Not true.
- Being a minor means that you are unable to give consent, even if aspects of the abuse were pleasurable.
Available for Interviews: Dr. Colleen Cira
Dr. Colleen D. Cira, Psy.D. received both her Masters and Doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and has been practicing in the field since 2001. Dr. Cira is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Founder and Executive Director of Cira Center for Behavioral Health, PC a boutique group practice with locations in Chicago and Oak Park that specializes in Women’s Issues/Health and Trauma. Dr. Cira is a trauma and anxiety expert, clinical supervisor, writer, speaker, consultant, activist, wife, and Mommy to two little ones.
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