Safe. Respectful. Restorative Healing.

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Recovering from sexual abuse requires compassion & trust, which you get with a clinical member of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA).

Sexual Abuse Recovery Counseling in Nashville & Franklin, TN

Healing from sexual abuse is one of the most courageous journeys a person can take. The pain, confusion, and deep emotional wounds that follow such experiences can affect every aspect of life — relationships, trust, self-worth, and even the sense of safety within one’s own body. At Tony Rankin Counseling, recovery is approached with empathy, patience, and respect for your unique healing process. With more than 30 years of counseling experience, Tony provides a confidential, trauma-informed environment where survivors can begin to process their experiences, reduce feelings of shame, and rediscover their sense of identity, strength, and peace.

Whether the abuse occurred recently or years ago, healing is possible — and you don’t have to face it alone. Tony’s role is to help survivors regain a sense of safety, identity, and hope — without rushing the healing process.

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Areas of Focus

  • Processing Trauma in a Safe Environment

    Safety is the foundation of trauma recovery. Tony provides a calm, confidential space where survivors can process their experiences at their own pace. Therapy focuses on creating emotional stability before delving into difficult memories, ensuring that clients feel grounded and supported throughout the process. Through compassionate listening and trauma-informed techniques, Tony helps clients understand how trauma affects thoughts, emotions, and the body — and begin to regain control of their healing journey.

  • Reducing Shame & Self-Blame

    Survivors of sexual abuse often carry feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame — even though the responsibility for abuse always lies with the perpetrator. In therapy, Tony helps clients challenge and release these painful internalized beliefs. The process emphasizes self-compassion, acceptance, and the recognition of one’s inherent worth and dignity. Healing involves reframing distorted self-perceptions and learning to speak to oneself with kindness and truth.

  • Rebuilding Emotional & Physical Boundaries

    Abuse can deeply damage a person’s ability to trust and feel safe — both emotionally and physically. Rebuilding boundaries is a key part of recovery. Tony helps clients explore what safety means for them, establish clear emotional limits, and learn to communicate needs confidently in relationships. Through guided reflection and practical exercises, clients gain the tools to protect their emotional well-being and develop relationships rooted in mutual respect and trust.

  • Integrating Body Awareness & Resilience

    Trauma often disconnects survivors from their bodies, leading to numbness, tension, or physical discomfort. Therapy gently integrates body awareness and mindfulness to help clients reconnect with their physical selves in a safe, empowering way. Techniques may include grounding exercises, relaxation strategies, and guided awareness to help clients recognize and regulate their body’s responses to stress. Over time, this integration promotes resilience, emotional balance, and a renewed sense of safety within one’s own body.