By Vanessa Marin – Feb. 2019   It’s an especially difficult time to be a survivor of sexual abuse or assault. On top of the daily struggle to stay safe and healthy, sexual abuse survivors also have to contend with an endlessly triggering news cycle. If you’re not a survivor yourself but you’re close to one — maybe a partner, friend or family member — you may not be able to fully understand what they’re going through, and you may feel...

Beverly Engel contributes to the discussions on USA Today A lawyer who had represented a second woman accusing Brett Kavanaugh of a long-ago sexual assault said Tuesday she stands by her account and is in the process of obtaining a Washington, D.C., lawyer. (Sept. 25) AP As Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh faced allegations of sexual assault from Christine Blasey Ford, President Donald Trump came to his defense. “It’s a...

Why more women don’t report sexual assaults: A survivor speaks out. “Victims are often too ashamed to come forward. Sexual assault is a very humiliating and dehumanizing act against someone. The person really feels invaded and defiled, and there is a lot of shame attached to that,” Engel told ABC News. She continued, “Attached to that shame is a lot of self-blame. Victims of sexual assault almost always blame themselves,...

Emotional abuse can be difficult to recognize The scars left by emotional abuse may not be visible to the eye, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less painful to endure. While physical abuse is easy to recognize, emotional abuse can be less obvious. It’s crucial to know what to look for, whether you’re the victim or a family member or friend of someone who’s struggling. “Months or years of being emotionally abused can cause you to distrust your...

These are eight reasons why victims of sexual harassment don’t come forward. People seem to ask this question every time a high-profile sexual harassment or assault case is reported. Cases like the recent article from Washington Post detailing allegations against Roy Moore, Alabama’s Republican candidate for Senate, seems to have offered fresh opportunities to perpetuate victim blaming. It is amazing how many people shift the blame onto...