A counselor with Ozark Rape Crisis Center discusses their organization’s role in supporting victims of sexual assault as well as educating those victims to available resources and family and friends to look for the warning signs of an abusive relationship.
Rebecca Dotson visited Harrison’s Original KHOZ’s “Around the Table” program to talk about these topics.
Dotson said victims may not immediately realize their situation and that the trauma may be slow in developing and take several months or even years to come forward. She adds that advocates have experience in working with victim’s whatever stage of coping.
Dotson discussed an often asked question why people have lingering effects of trauma years after an attack saying, “Some traumas stick with us and when you look at how trauma affects the brain, the heart, the soul, and the body, there are definitely some lasting impacts.”
Dotson adds that she makes presentation at high schools and middle schools as well as other organizations to help people see the signs of those that may have been victims or currently in a toxic relationship.
Dotson finished the conversation with the reminder that, “Rape and sexual assault are never the fault of the victim; it is always the fault of the person who chose to overstep that boundary.”
Ozark Rape Crisis has a 24-hour hotline available at 870-741-4141 with offices located in the Signature Tower in Harrison.
The complete interview with Rebecca Dotson can be found on the Around the Table Facebook Page.
