Dear Therapist: I Ran Into the Man Who Raped Me

Editor’s Note: On the last Monday of each month, Lori Gottlieb answers a reader’s question about a problem, big or small. Have a question? Email her at [email protected].

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Dear Therapist,

Seven years ago, when I was a college freshman, I was sexually assaulted. This experience deeply traumatized me beyond what I could cope with at the time. I did not want to press charges or involve authorities, because I’d had a bad experience telling someone in power about a prior sexual assault. I eventually processed what happened through a lot of therapy and some medication.

I moved across the country and thought I’d never see the person who assaulted me again. But recently I moved back to where we both went to college. When a friend invited me to join a Spanish-practice group, I noticed that the meetup link