Welcome Autumn Fannin McKamie, New Cry Heard Support Inc. Board Member.

Autumn Fannin McKamie, LMFT received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Humboldt State University in 2014. She has worked with various populations including children, teens, adults, and families in treatment and outpatient settings. She approaches therapy from multiple therapeutic orientations, primarily person-centered/humanistic, cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic, solution-focused and strengths-based techniques. She believes therapy is very much about the human experience and learning to develop healthy supportive relationships to foster outside of therapy. Furthermore, she believes that therapy provides an opportunity to have a vulnerable experience within a supportive framework and create a healthy self-view. Outside of work, Autumn enjoys watching thriller/action/mystery movies, cooking, playing video games, attending church, reading suspense books, spending time with her family, being out in nature, and sharing her love for zombies.

Rising Together: Honoring Sexual Assault Awareness Month

On April 27, 2025, Board Members, Autumn Fannin McKamie, shared powerful words in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, reminding us that behind every statistic is a human being with a story of resilience and strength.

According to RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, an American is sexually assaulted every 68 seconds. Approximately 90% of rape victims are female, and 10% are male. These numbers are staggering, but they also highlight the urgent need for awareness, compassion, and support.
Survivors are more than what happened to them. Like the phoenix, they rise—transformed, scarred, yet stronger. This journey is deeply personal and often painful, but it is also one marked by immense courage and hope.

To support survivors, we must:

• Listen without judgment. Acknowledge their pain. Simply being present can be powerful.
• Avoid shame and blame. Sexual assault is never the survivor's fault. Hold perpetrators accountable.
• Offer compassion. Help create safe spaces—emotionally and physically—where survivors feel respected, believed, and empowered.

We were also reminded of the powerful R.I.S.E. acronym:

• R: Reclaim your life, your power, your voice
• I: Inner strength will guide your choice
• S: Stories of survival will rejoice
• E: Emerge stronger, make a new noise

If you or someone you know needs support, these resources are available 24/7:

• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• California Rape Crisis Centers
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-373-7888 (SMS: 233-733)
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call/Text 988 (988lifeline.org)

You are not what happened to you. You are a survivor. You are rising.
 
Statistics:

• Per RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network- one of the largest anti-sexual violence organization and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (confidential 24/7 support)

Per RAINN, every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted (using the National Crime Victimization Survey, NCVS by the Justice Department)

• 9 out of every 10 victims of rape are female (90%), and male (10%) as of 1998.


• https://rainn.org/statistics/scope-problem

 
Ways to support and what not to do:

• Every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted (per RAINN statistic). Sexual assault is a traumatic crime with devastating and long-lasting effects. These numbers represent individuals, each with their own story, their own strength. And it is the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, the ability to rise from the ashes of trauma, that offers a powerful message of hope. This journey of rising may be long and arduous, marked by scars that tell a story of survival. But within each survivor lies an unyielding strength, a fire that refuses to be extinguished. Like the phoenix, they emerge, transformed and carrying the wisdom of their experience.
• For those who want to support survivors on their journey, here are a few important principles:
• Listen and Acknowledge: Create a space where survivors feel heard without judgment. Acknowledge their experience and their feelings without trying to minimize or fix things. Simply being present and validating their reality can be incredibly powerful.
• Do Not Shame or Blame: Remember that sexual assault is never the survivor's fault. Avoid any language or assumptions that could place blame or shame on them. Focus on the responsibility of the perpetrator.
• Offer Compassion and Help Create Safe Spaces: Approach survivors with empathy and understanding. Help create environments, both physical and emotional, where they feel safe, respected, and believed. This might involve offering practical support or connecting them with resources while respecting their autonomy.

 
Acronym:

• R: Reclaim your life, your power, your voice
• I: Inner strength will guide your choice
• S: stories of survival will rejoice
• E: Emerge stronger, make a new noise

 
Resources: 

• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) California Directory of Rape Crisis Centers: https://www.valor.us/get-help/wpbdp_category/california/
• National Domestic Violence Hotline. 800-799-7233.
• National Human Trafficking Hotline. 888-373-7888. SMS: 233-733.
• Suicide Prevention Hotline. text/call 988 (988lifeline.org)

 
* You ARE NOT what happened to you.