Co-victims of Sexual Assault: The Responses of Partners, Family and Friends to Rape Survivors

 Alan McEvoy, PhD, President, Safe Schools Coalition and Professor, Wittenberg University
 
Alice Vachss, JD

Not only are those who are closest to rape victims deeply affected by the assault, but they also have a profound influence on the victim's recovery. Seldom, however, do these "co-victims" receive the guidance they need to help survivors of rape to recover, and to recover themselves. Often these co-victims are well intended, but unintentionally say or do things that further strains the relationship with the person they care about. This is true regardless of whether the rape victim is a female or a male. This session addresses the role of co-victims in the rape recovery process, with an eye toward practical strategies to facilitate healing and to strengthen relationships in the wake of a life altering event.