K’s assault happened when she was 19 years old. “For many days after my assault, I didn’t want to live,” she shared. “I went to group therapy, but it wasn’t a comfortable experience for me, so I stopped going and just tried to get on with my life.” 21 years after K experienced assault for that first time, she decided she needed help. She was living in Milwaukee at the time, and through online research, she found the Aurora Healing Center at Aurora Sinai Medical Center. “From the very first phone call, I knew the Healing Center was what I’d always needed,” said K. K began attending individual therapy sessions to make sure she was ready for group therapy. She remembers being frozen with fear in her car on her first day of group therapy. “It was scary. I didn’t think I could do it. Then I thought about my favorite movie quote from “We Bought a Zoo.” The main character says, ‘Sometimes all you need is 20 seconds of insane courage, just literally 20 seconds of just embarrassing bravery.” And I promise you, something great will come of it.’ And that’s what I did.” K attended several rounds of group therapy, along with other types of therapy geared toward people who’d had crimes committed against them. “It was during one of those sessions that I realized I’d had relationships that were not consensual,” she explained. “That’s when my life really changed.” Years later, K is now a licensed professional counselor, working with clients of all ages facing trauma, the loss of a loved one, relationship issues and life transitions. “Places like the Healing Center are crucial, and it gave me the determination to help other survivors,” said K. “After an assault, you must feel like you’re surrounded by people you trust, and that’s what the Healing Center provided. From the second I got there I felt like I was going to be okay.” In 2024, the Healing Center at Aurora Sinai Medical Center completed 4,845 individual and group counseling sessions. This number includes services provided to 163 new clients.