Sexual assault is any unwanted, coerced or forced sexual activity. It is never a survivor's fault.

Sexual assault happens regardless of personal identity. It is never a survivor's fault.  It does not matter if they were intoxicated, or engaged in sexual activity with the perpetrator before or after the assault. It is every person's right to say no at any time regardless of their relationship to the perpetrator. 

IF YOU'VE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 

At the emergency departments of Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai West, Lenox Health Greenwich Village, Brookdale Hospital and Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, or a New York City Department of Health SAFE-Designated Hospital, you'll be met with medical professionals and crisis counselors who know how to help. These individuals are specially trained to provide both comprehensive and expert medical care, as well as compassionate support for whatever you may need.  As part of the medical exam, you will be offered preventative treatment for STDs and possible HIV exposure as well as emergency contraception. Evidence of the assault can also be collected and preserved in case you decide to report to the police at any time in the next 20 years. Everything that happens in the emergency department is your choice. At any one of our partner Emergency Departments (below) you'll be seen as soon as you arrive and treated for sexual assault free of charge.  

MOUNT SINAI WEST

59th Street and 10th Avenue
Manhattan

If you visit any one of our partner emergency departments, you will automatically be connected to CVTC, if you would like to be. With your permission, we'll reach out to you within two business days to check in and to offer continued support.

There is no "right way" to act or feel after a sexual assault. Many survivors hope to forget everything that happened and just move on. This is a common reaction, but talking to a compassionate, experienced therapist at CVTC—even just once—can make a world of difference. CVTC provides a safe space to sort out your feelings and reactions with someone who understands what you're going through.  

No one deserves to be sexually assaulted and you are not to blame. Did I drink too much? Were my clothes too suggestive? Why did I trust them in the first place? Why didn't I fight back? Many survivors blame themselves for what happened. It is important to remember that whatever you did kept you alive; you did nothing to deserve this. Sexual assault is about the perpetrator's desire for power and control. It is about violence, not sex.

CVTC is here to help you heal. Whether you seek our services a day, a week, or years after an assault, we are here to provide expert and compassionate care, free of charge.

Call (212) 523-4728 to discuss the healing options available to you or to make an appointment.

WHEN SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED, IT AFFECTS YOU TOO.

Sexual assault does not only hurt those who survive it. If someone you care about has been hurt, that’s called being a co-survivor. Click here to learn how you can best provide support. 

When you're ready for more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at (212) 523-4728.