"I was threatened, I felt ashamed and I felt guilty. I somehow thought it was my fault."

Monique Wright-Williams was 4 years old the first time she was abused.

"Up until 16, two uncles and my stepfather, and I had other experiences in college,” she said.

She says she was never going to tell her story, until someone betrayed her trust again.

"So I didn't decide to come forward on my own, I had the benefit of an ex-boyfriend calling and telling my mother, which at that point became knowledge to my family," she said.

And she understands why many survivors don't.

After allegations were brought against Justice Brett Kavanaugh by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, she says she and other local survivors have been asked an unfair question: why didn't they speak up?

"I have heard from clients in the past few weeks that seeing what Dr. Ford went through was in a way re-traumatizing to them, knowing that she had death threats and had to move out of her house makes people afraid of the very real consequences which can sometimes come with coming forward," said Dr. Afton Kapusciniski, Syracuse University Psychological Services Center director. 

But it depends on the person. Some people do. In most cases, women feel like they won't be believed. 

"For a lot of women who don't come forward, the experience of shame and anxiety is really intense,” said Kapusciniski.

She says survivors are often afraid there will be no consequences for the person who assaulted them — but consequences for them. 

"The people I've worked with are acutely aware that convictions of sexual assault are rare. And the cost for people coming forward can be pretty heavy. Only one in 10 cases that are referred by police actually result in a conviction,” said Kapusciniski. 

And some women black-out such a traumatic memory. 

"When we encounter a trauma, often we experience vivid memories of the traumatic event, that can come in flashbacks or nightmares,” said Kapusciniski. “It’s also true that other details are lost."

Wright-Williams says no one understood her night terrors or PTSD.

"No one understood or could relate, so it's very isolating,” she said.

Dr. Kapuscinisk says, "It would be wonderful if people could get justice when this happens, but it's not always possible. But myself, as a therapist, I have to figure out what's best for my client. And sometimes what works for her isn't going to be coming forward.”