A sexual assault is any sexual act that you didn’t consent (agree, or say yes) to, or that you were forced into against your will. It includes rape (of the vagina, anus or mouth), forced kissing, groping, torture of a sexual nature. Assaults of this kind might also be called sexual violence. They may not always leave physical damage or marks but can cause traumatic stress responses in the body and have long-lasting emotional and psychological effects. You may have known the person who assaulted you or they may have been a stranger. You may experience thoughts that the assault was your fault or blame yourself. You may be unsure if you can talk about or revisit your experience and that is ok. Therapy can help you explore some of these feelings in your own time.