NCJ Number
128877
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This chapter describes creative therapeutic techniques with male sexual abuse victims that do not involve verbal communication between client and therapist.
Abstract
In an "adequacy journal," the client records all emotional and behavioral breakthroughs and daily happenings where he has done well. In a "spoken autobiography" the client writes a complete sexual history including family sexuality messages, first awakenings of his own sexuality, major experiences with interpersonal sexuality, and the circumstances of all sexual abuse experiences. Photographs carried by the client or the therapist can provide positive experiences for the client. Helpful photographs typically include images of the client at various stages of growth and an image of the therapist to reassure the client. Touch exercises between therapist and client involve nurturing and nonsexualized touching paired with care, pleasure, and safety. The "broken record" exercise involves giving the client positive and therapeutic messages to repeat over and over again like a broken record. Other creative approaches involve the use of art and toys to objectify and release emotions.