Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) Journey to New Beginnings

Annual retreat • Community education • Healing resources for survivors and allies

Why SAAM Matters

Every April, Sexual Assault Awareness Month shines a light on the realities of sexual violence and its impact on mental wellness. The campaign's color-teal-symbolizes hope, healing, and solidarity with survivors. As trauma-informed clinicians, we use SAAM to:

Honor survivor voices and break the silence.
Educate our community on consent, prevention, and trauma-informed care.
Promote holistic healing for women and couples navigating intimacy after trauma.

Our Annual SAAM Retreat

Each April, Journey to New Beginnings hosts a two-day retreat filled with restorative workshops, consent education, mindful movement, and survivor panels. The retreat is open to survivors, partners, clinicians, and supportive community members.

Next Retreat

April 2026 - exact dates & venue announced this fall

Theme

"Reclaiming Voice, Restoring Intimacy"

Format

In-person sessions + virtual livestream options

Early-bird registration will open in January 2026. Subscribe to our newsletter or bookmark this page for updates.

We keep past flyers visible to celebrate progress and help newcomers see SAAM in action.

How You Can Get Involved

Stand with survivors, deepen your own healing, and join the movement every April.

Check back for retreat registration, volunteer forms, and our full SAAM calendar-or book an appointment today to begin your personal journey toward safety and connection.

Attend the Retreat

Healing, education, and connection in one weekend.

Wear & Share Teal

Post a photo or fact with #SAAMMadisonAL to raise awareness.

Sponsor or Volunteer

Donate time, funds, or services to expand survivor resources.

Book an Appointment

If SAAM themes stir personal memories, our trauma-informed therapists are here-online statewide or in our Madison office.

Frequently Asked Questionswith survivors, deepen your own healing, and join the movement every April.

Updated for Journey to New Beginnings Counseling Services-serving women, teenage girls, and couples across Alabama with trauma-informed therapy, EMDR, and secure telehealth.

Not at all. Reaching out takes strength and insight. Everyone needs support at times, especially when past trauma, anxiety, or relationship strain overwhelms the tools that once worked. Our therapists will help you identify existing strengths and add new, evidence-based skills so challenges no longer run the show.

Loved ones can listen, but a licensed, trauma-informed clinician offers:

Specialized training in EMDR, somatic, and attachment-based interventions
Neutral space free of judgment, expectations, or gossip
Confidentiality protected by law and ethics
Concrete strategies to calm your nervous system, shift unhelpful beliefs, and rebuild intimacy

Medication can lower symptoms, but it doesn't process root causes. Therapy addresses the why-unresolved trauma, relationship patterns, nervous-system dysregulation-while teaching coping skills that last. Many clients use a both-and approach (medication + counseling); we'll coordinate with your prescriber as needed.

Because every woman, teen, or couple has unique goals, sessions are tailored. Common elements include:

Check-in & grounding to ensure safety
Goal-focused work (EMDR, somatic exercises, attachment coaching, CBT)
Practical take-aways so progress continues between meetings

Length varies by history, goals, and commitment. Single-issue concerns may resolve in 6-12 EMDR sessions; complex sexual trauma often requires longer, phased care. We review progress every few sessions and adjust your plan together.

Attend consistently-online or in person.
Practice between-session exercises.
Be honest about what feels helpful or not.
Bring questions; therapy works best when it's collaborative.

If intimacy or trust is the core concern, we recommend starting together with a couples therapist. Individual work can follow with a different clinician to protect confidentiality and avoid split-loyalties.

Yes. Our HIPAA-secure telehealth platform serves clients anywhere in Alabama-ideal for busy schedules, rural locations, or childcare challenges.

Several clinicians are certified in EMDR; others specialize in somatic, CBT, or attachment-focused methods. At intake we match you with the therapist-and modality-that fits your goals.

We're in-network with select plans (e.g., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama). For others, we provide superbills for out-of-network reimbursement. Need-based sliding spots are limited; ask about availability when booking.

Have another question?

Email us at info@j2nb.com or book an appointment through our secure portal to speak with a therapist who understands trauma, intimacy, and whole-person healing.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) - Journey to New Beginnings

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. 1 out of 4 of these Americans are women. To honor this cause, Journey to New Beginnings Counseling Services annually hosts events during the month April. These events raise awareness, encourage prevention and provide hope for survivors. This is our greatest month for advocacy, fundraising and requests for sponsorships. Here you can find ways to support, access resources, attend , be a part of the team or volunteer for an event.