Episode 121: How to take back your power after a sexual assault - a podcast by Victim Service Center

This week we have a VERY special guest, Natasha Mc Coy who is a child sexual abuse survivor and living testimony. In this episode, VSC's Education and Prevention Training Coordinator, Hannah Jenarine, speaks with Natasha on how she was able to take back her power after a sexual assault.

Natasha McCoy is a Licensed Occupational Therapist, providing service professionally in this capacity for the past eight (13) years. 

She earned both her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology at New York University, preceded by her Associate in Arts with Honors at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Natasha has worked in settings such as Hospitals Acute Care and Inpatient Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, School and Home Care, performing Home Evaluations, Community re-entry and Wheel-Chair assessments; Professional development of level one and level two students. Before beginning her career in Occupational therapy, Natasha was a Special Education Head-Start Pre-School teacher in New York City.

Natasha returned to and resided in Trinidad for four years from 2013-2017, joining a small team of clinicians who provided therapy that was under-resourced on the twin islands. She was also an advocate for Autism Awareness, Cerebral Palsy Association and raising government support for people with disabilities. 

She also operated a Private Practice, The Occupational Therapy Sanctuary, located in St. Joseph Trinidad, where she evaluated and treated Adults and Pediatric clients presenting with various congenital and acquired cognitive and physical disabilities. She became a trained lecturer and Student advisor for the first Master’s in Occupational Therapy Program on the island; being licensed both in Trinidad and Tobago and the United States. While residing in Trinidad as a healthcare professional, Natasha functioned as a:

Member: Council of Professions Related to Medicine in Trinidad and Tobago.

Member: Board of Speech Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy in Trinidad and Tobago

Member: Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapist (ACOT)

Member: Trinidad and Tobago Occupational Therapy Association (TTOTA)

Achievements: Editor’s Choice Award from The National Library of Poetry, 1997

                         Faculty Honors Award for Academic Performance (Dean’s List), 1999                         

                         Faculty Honors Convocation Award for Academic Performance, 2003

She currently resides in Florida, working at The Orlando Hospital of Veterans’ Affairs.                         

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

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