Sexual Abuse Therapy in Westlake Village
Sexual Abuse Therapy in Westlake Village with Julie Klamon, LMFT
Sexual abuse leaves marks that no one else can see. It changes how you trust, how you relate to your own body, and how safe you feel moving through an ordinary day. If you live in Westlake Village and you are looking for sexual abuse therapy, you may have spent a long time deciding whether to reach out at all. That hesitation is normal. What matters is that you are here now, and that help is available from someone with real experience in this work.
My background in this area runs deep. Before opening my own practice, I spent more than 10 years at a leading Los Angeles agency supporting children and teens recovering from sexual abuse and trauma. During that time I trained and worked as a certified counselor through the UCLA Rape Treatment Center, assisting survivors directly. Those years taught me what survivors actually need: a therapist who does not rush them, who can sit with hard material without flinching, and who understands that recovery does not move in a straight line. You set the pace, and I respect it completely.
My office in Agoura Hills is about 5 to 10 minutes from Westlake Village on the 101. Secure video sessions are also available to anyone in California, which many clients choose for the added privacy.
*Certified: UCLA Rape Treatment Center / Sexual Assault Counselor
Your Privacy Is Protected
Reaching out for this kind of help takes trust, and trust starts with knowing your privacy is absolute. Everything discussed in our sessions is protected by law and by the ethical standards of my license. My office is in Agoura Hills, just outside the Westlake Village neighborhoods, so you are not going to cross paths with people from your social or professional circles in the waiting area. For clients who want an additional layer of privacy, virtual sessions let you do this work from your own home without leaving the house at all.
How the Effects of Sexual Abuse Show Up
The effects of sexual abuse rarely stay in the past. They tend to surface in the present, in ways that can be confusing if you do not connect them to what happened. Survivors often notice some mix of the following:
- Nightmares or trouble sleeping
- Flashbacks or intrusive memories
- Changes in appetite
- Fearfulness and feeling on guard
- Difficulty trusting other people
- Changes in how you relate to intimacy and your body
- Trouble concentrating at work or school
- Strain in personal relationships
- Low mood, sadness, or depression
None of these mean something is wrong with you. They are the normal ways a person carries an experience that was never their fault. Therapy gives those reactions somewhere to go.
My Approach to Sexual Abuse Therapy
This work asks for patience, trust, and real clinical skill. Some survivors come to me knowing exactly what happened and ready to talk about it. Others are not sure whether what they went through counts as abuse, or they remember only fragments. Both starting points are valid. We begin wherever you are and move forward only when you are ready. My job is to create the conditions where it becomes possible to process what happened without being re-traumatized by the process itself. You can read more about my approach on my sexual abuse therapy page.
Depending on what fits, that work may happen one on one in individual therapy, where you have a private space to process the effects of the abuse and build coping skills. When the abuse has affected the whole household, family therapy can help family members understand its impact and support one another through recovery. The effects of sexual abuse reach into trust, intimacy, self-worth, relationships, parenting, and physical health, and we address whatever is most pressing for you. The goal is a life that is no longer dictated by what was done to you, and that kind of change is possible.
Immediate Resources
If you or someone you love has been assaulted within the last five days and you are in the Los Angeles area, reach out to The Rape Treatment Center for medical care and advocacy. Their 24-hour emergency line is 424-259-7208.
If you are outside the greater Los Angeles area, visit RAINN.org to find a nearby facility that can provide an exam and connect you with support. You can also reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime by calling or texting 988 if you are in distress. If more than five days have passed and you want to press charges, please contact your local law enforcement agency.
Who I Work With
Children (8+)
Tweens & Teens
Parents & Adults
Frequently Asked Questions About Sexual Abuse Therapy in Westlake Village
I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 20 years of clinical experience. Before opening my own practice I spent over a decade at a leading Los Angeles agency working directly with children and teens recovering from sexual abuse, and I am a certified counselor through the UCLA Rape Treatment Center. That combination of specialized training and hands-on experience shapes how I do this work.
Completely confidential, within the limits required by law. My Agoura Hills office sits just outside the Westlake Village neighborhoods, which gives clients a layer of privacy that matters here. You are not likely to run into a neighbor or acquaintance in the waiting area, and for added privacy I also offer secure video sessions you can attend from home.
Yes. Many of the people I work with did not tell anyone about their abuse for years or even decades. That is completely normal. Sexual abuse often carries shame, confusion, and fear that make it hard to talk about. There is no expiration date on getting help, and therapy can address the effects whether the experience happened recently or a long time ago.
Yes. I work with children ages 8 and up, as well as teens, who have experienced sexual abuse or assault. My years at a Los Angeles agency specializing in this area gave me deep experience helping young people process what happened in age-appropriate ways, and I work closely with parents to support their child through recovery.
My Agoura Hills office is about 5 to 10 minutes from Westlake Village on the 101. I also offer secure video sessions to anyone located in California, which many survivors prefer for the added privacy of doing this work from their own home.
In-Person and Virtual Sexual Abuse Therapy Near Westlake Village
My office in Agoura Hills, CA 91301 is a short drive from Westlake Village for in-person sexual abuse therapy. I also see clients from nearby communities, including Thousand Oaks, CA, Agoura Hills, CA, Oak Park, CA, Calabasas, CA, and Woodland Hills, CA. Virtual sessions are available to anyone located anywhere in California.
Taking the first step is often the hardest part. When you are ready, I am here. Schedule a complimentary phone consultation and we can talk at whatever pace feels right.