Sexual Assault
Sexual abuse is any sexual activity that a person does not agree to. Sexual abuse can also involve the use of pornography, sexual jokes or insults against you. It may be physical, verbal or visual. Sexual abuse is anything that forces a person into unwanted sexual contact or attention. It can happen to adults, teens and children. Some examples of sexual assault are:
- Rape or attempted rape
- Touching someone after they have resisted or said no
- Unwanted kissing
- Sexual insults or comments toward someone
- Pressuring or threatening someone to perform sexual acts against their will
After sexual assault, you may not know what to do, feel or think. We can help give you information about your options.
- Your safety is important. If you’re in immediate danger, call 911. Reach out to a friend or loved one to support you.
- Help is available to answer questions about seeking medical care, reporting options, and safety planning. Call our crisis line at 214-590-0430 or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 for additional information.
- Remember what happened to you is not your fault.
Domestic Violence
Domestic violence is abuse or violence among any members of a household. The people can be related to you by blood, marriage or an intimate relationship. It is a pattern of behavior where one person seeks to dominate the other through the use of power and control. There can be both immediate and long-term health, social and economic consequences.
Here are some examples of domestic violence:
- Physical– Physical abuse includes hitting, pushing, pulling hair, choking, slapping, holding you down against your will, throwing and breaking things in front of you or using weapons against you. Physical violence can get worse over time. It can lead to severe injury or death.
- Sexual – Sexual abuse includes pressuring you to have sex or to do sexual acts that you don’t want to do, hurting you or causing you pain during sex or forcing you to have sex after you have already said no. Sexual abuse can also involve the use of pornography, sexual jokes or insults against you.
- Emotional – Emotional abuse includes insults, cursing or swearing at you, putting you down and ignoring what you say. It can also include isolating you from your family or friends, turning people against you, or preventing you from working or getting an education.
Sometimes it can be hard to understand abuse and violence. We are here to help. Below are examples of common misunderstandings.
“He said he only hurts me because I make him do it.”
This is not true. You cannot make another person hit you or harm you. The abusive person makes the choice to hurt you.
“My partner threatened to kill me, but that was the anger talking. It would not really happen.”
Any threats to hurt or kill you, your children or family must be taken very seriously. These kinds of threats are often followed by actions. Do not ignore any threat.
“Domestic violence agencies only help women. They do not help men who are abused.”
Abuse or violence can happen to anyone. It does not matter if you are rich or poor, educated or not educated. People of all races, genders, religions and sexual orientations experience abuse.
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. Labor trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, providing, or obtaining of a person for a commercial sex act, in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not yet attained 18 years of age.
Assault or Witnessing Violent Crimes
Unfortunately, violent crimes such as physical assault, shootings or robberies happen often in our community. Experiencing or witnessing a violent crime can impact a person's sense of safety and how they interact with others. Our advocacy and counseling services are available to individuals who have experienced a violent crime.
Getting Help
No matter what you have experienced, you can get help. For more information or to make an appointment call us at 214-590-2926.
Additional information:
Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN)
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
Victim Intervention Program/Rape Crisis Center
214-590-2926
Crisis line: 214-590-0430
Email us
The services of licensed counselors and experienced staff are free to Dallas County residents.