What is the correct order of the sexual assault stages?

• A. Stage 1- Integration; Stage 2- Acute Trauma; Stage 3- Outward Adjustment.
• B. Stage 1- Acute Trauma; Stage 2- Outward Adjustment; Stage 3- Integration.
• C. Stage 1- Outward Adjustment; Stage 2- Integration; Stage 3- Acute Trauma.
• D. Stage 1- Integration; Stage 2- Stage 3; Stage 3- Acute Trauma.

Answer: (B)

Recovery from trauma follows a progression: Acute Trauma comes first, representing the immediate emotional and physical reaction after the assault. Then comes Outward Adjustment, where the person may appear to function in daily life while distress and pain are handled internally. The final stage is Integration, when the survivor processes the event and redefines their life in a way that includes what happened. The sequence described here matches the correct order: Acute Trauma, then Outward Adjustment, then Integration. Other options place stages in a different order—either skipping the initial acute response, starting with outward adjustment, or mixing stage labels—so they don’t fit the natural healing arc. Understanding this helps responders recognize where a survivor might be in the process and tailor support accordingly, offering validation, safety, and resources at each step.