Rape Culture Revisited: Concepts and Action for Counselors Helping Survivors

According to Elwood et al. (2011), between 1995 and 2003, over 1.3 million female adolescents experienced at least one rape. When discussing rape with a victim, it is important for the counselor to avoid secondarily traumatizing them. When counselors educate themselves on rape culture in order to better understand client psyche, they can provide more effective treatment to clients. This article discusses in-depth information about rape culture, highlights principles of advocating for sexual assault survivors, and explains feminist counseling techniques that can help build a counselor-client relationship and empower and identify strengths in the client.