Emotional Support

Emotions & Self-Care

Seeking Support

  • Counselor / Therapist / Psychologist: It's okay to seek outside support, and you can talk to a professional therapist, counselor, or psychologist through Pomona or the local community. Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS) provides free and confidential counseling sessions to students. Learn more at Support at Pomona. 
  • Crisis Centers: Crisis centers, also called rape crisis centers, are places dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault or abuse and often provide counseling, support programs, legal referrals, and access to advocates. Learn more at Support in the Claremont Area. 
  • Advocates: Sometimes called survivor advocates or victim advocates, these are compassionate allies who are designated confidential resources that can support you by accompanying you to a medical or forensic exam, explaining your reporting options, helping you find psychological/emotional support and referring you to legal resources.  Connect with the Pomona Student Advocates by calling their 24/7 number at (909) 503-7972, or emailing them at [email protected], or find an advocate through Project Sister Family Services, learn more at Support in the Claremont Area.

Common Emotional Responses

There is no right or wrong emotional response to an experience of unwanted sexual contact; each person will have their own reaction. It’s common to experience a mix of emotions and feelings, like sadness, anger, confusion, shame, or uncertainty of what to do next.

It can be useful to seek support and practice active self-care to aid the healing process.  Below are some tips and reminders for taking care of yourself throughout your process.

Self-care

Self-care is an important part of healing. While you may feel pressure from others to respond in a certain way, your only obligation is to your own healing.  You are in the best position to know what you need.

  • Check in with yourself about your sleeping, eating, exercise, and substance use patterns. Your physical health is directly connected to your emotional well-being. If you feel tired or emotionally drained, consider incorporating meditation or other relaxation practices into your daily routine.
  • Processing what happened in a safe environment is important; if you do not feel safe in your school environment due to ongoing contact with the perpetrator, you have the right to change your housing accommodations or class schedule. Read more about Pomona Policies and Your Title IX Rights.
  • Remember that you are not alone, and it's okay to seek out support, whether through friends, online communities, an advocate, a crisis center, or a counselor or therapist.

Grounding exercises

  1. Place one hand on your abdomen and one over your heart. Gently apply pressure or hum. Focus on the feeling of your body under your hands.
  2. Tap parts of your body and focus on the sensation this creates.
  3. Allow water or air to run over your arms, legs, and/or face.
  4. Feel your feet on the ground, your body against a chair, or your hand against a wall or floor.  It may also help to stomp your feet, shift your weight from one leg to another, and/or massage your legs.
  5. If you're physically able to do so, stand up, walk, stretch, or raise your arms.
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Support at Pomona

Pomona has a mandated reporter policy, meaning most Pomona staff, faculty, professors, or RAs that you tell about an incident of nonconsensual sexual contact will be required to report it to the Title IX Coordinator. The only employees who are not mandatory reporters are those in the Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services, the Ombuds-person, the Pomona Student Advocates, and the McAlister Center Chaplains.

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS)(7C resource - confidential)
MCAPS is a confidential resources, meaning you can disclose a personal experience of unwanted sexual contact and they are required to NOT report it to the school or share your information with anyone else outside of the counseling center. Provides brief therapy and, if necessary, referral to longer-term therapy. If after hours, students may call Campus Safety at (909) 607-2000 and request to page an on call counselor; someone is on call 24/7 to respond to emergency calls.

Campus Safety Services(7C resource – not confidential)
Campus Safety is not a confidential resource, meaning if you disclose a personal experience of unwanted sexual contact to any Campus Safety Personnel, they will be required to report it to Pomona. Provides first response to emergencies, 24-hour safety escort services, and connection to the Dean on call.

Pomona College Ombuds: Conchita Serri(confidential)
The Ombuds is a confidential resource, meaning you can disclose a personal experience of unwanted sexual contact to her and she is required to NOT report it to the school or share your information with anyone else. Provides conflict resolution, communication services, and referrals.

McAlister Center Chaplains(7C resource - confidential)
The Chaplains are a confidential resources, meaning you can disclose a personal experience of unwanted sexual contact to any Chaplain acting in a religious capacity (not as a professor, for instance), and they are required to NOT report it to the school or share your information with anyone else. Provides resources for students of any faith background looking to integrate spirituality into their healing process.

The Queer Resource Center (QRC)(7C resource)
Provides support, guidance, community, and a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and asexual students and their allies. Offers free HIV testing. The Director of QRC is designated as a confidential resource. The Director of the QRC is a designated confidential resource.

Chicano Latino Student Affairs (CLSA)(7C resource)
Provides support, guidance, and community for Latin students.

Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA) (7C resource)
Provides support, guidance, and community for students of African descent.

Asian American Resource Center (AARC)
Provides support, guidance, and community for students of Asian descent.

International Place of The Claremont Colleges (7C resource)
Provides support, guidance, and community for international students.

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In the Claremont Area

The following places offer support, services, and information for survivors of abuse or assault in the area.

Tri-City Mental Health Services offers psychotherapy, peer counseling, clinical case management, medication management, and referrals.

Monsour Counseling Community Referrals List (includes therapists that take school insurance)  

Project Sister Family Services provides counseling and connects survivors to medical, legal, and mental health resources. Includes a walk-in clinic with crisis intervention for survivors of all genders and ages and for their non-offending family members, schools, churches, community organizations, etc. The first ten therapy sessions are free, and then payment is arranged on a sliding scale.

San Bernardino Sexual Assault Services offers a 24-hour hotline, medical and legal advocacy and accompaniment, support groups, individual counseling, and referrals.

East Los Angeles Women’s Center offers a 24/7 hotline, medical accompaniment, legal advocacy and accompaniment, support groups, and individual counseling.

Peace Over Violence offers a 24/7 hotline, legal advocacy and accompaniment, support groups, and individual counseling.

YWCA Greater Los Angeles offers a 24/7 hotline, medical and legal advocacy and accompaniment, support groups, and individual counseling.

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Nationally & Globally

Nonconsensual or unwanted sexual contact is never okay, regardless of the state or country in which it occurs. Below are resources to find information and support nationally and internationally.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network)
RAINN is the largest US network supporting survivors of sexual assault and abuse, and offers a free, completely anonymous and confidential 24/7 online chat service that you can access from anywhere around the globe. Chat with a trained RAINN support specialist anytime at online.rainn.org. Learn more at the RAINN resources website­.   

U.S. Department of State -  Office of Overseas Citizens Services
The State Department can help you contact family or friends, obtain medical care, address emergency needs, understand the local criminal justice process and connect with local and/or US-based resources for victims of crime, including local legal representation. The first step is often connecting with the local US consulate or embassy.

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