RECLAIMING THE SEXUALLY TRAUMATIZED BODY: WOMEN'S NARRATIVES OF EMBODIMENT AFTER SEXUAL ASSAULT

Research has focused on the consequences of sexual assault, with limited attention to women’s lived bodily experiences post-assault. Using a constructivist paradigm with a critical feminist lens, the study employed an embodiment framework to examine the research question: How do women experience embodiment throughout the healing process after sexual assault? Embodiment is the way one experiences, perceives, and understands their body within their physical and cultural contexts (Piran, 2017). Narrative inquiry was used to investigate eight women’s experiences of embodiment throughout the healing process following sexual assault. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted across participants’ narratives and the following themes were identified: (1) Perceived and Scrutinized; (2) Influence of Social Media and Societal Norms; (3) Disconnection; (4) Body Discomfort; (5) Connection with Others; (6) Body Comfort; (7) Physical Movement Facilitating Healing; and (8) Understanding, Renewal, and Reclamation. The findings are discussed along with implications for counselling psychology and future research directions.