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Guiding Recovery From Child Sexual Abuse: Horizons of Hope

NCJ Number
179069
Author(s)
Dave Simon
Date Published
1998
Length
249 pages
Annotation
Written for counselors and therapists who are interested in working with adolescent and adult child sexual abuse survivors, this book describes a British program designed to help the survivors find a path of recovery.
Abstract
Based on the author's own practical experience in working with over 100 persons who have suffered childhood sexual abuse, the structured counseling program is tailored for working with adult or adolescent survivors. it can be used in individual, group, couple, and family work. The program has a three-stage format. The "educative" stage uses metaphors to form a first bridge with the survivor. The counselor and survivor talk about the abuse, how it happened, and its effects. The counselor gives survivors a chance to listen without committing themselves. Survivors thus have the opportunity to check their own thoughts and feelings and to determine whether the counselors understand their past and present experiences. The "future-focus" stage begins to address current problems, including what has gone wrong and what they want to do about it. The counseling focuses on answers, experiments, and taking risks. Survivors are cautioned that it will not be a quick process. The "support" stage gives survivors the time and the patience to work on their lives. In addition to program components, the book discusses the unique issues and problems associated with childhood sexual abuse that are likely to arise over the course of the counseling program. The theoretical discussion is illustrated with case studies and practical examples. One chapter describes how to set up the program. 8 references, suggested further reading, and appended supplementary information, including examples of poetry by adult survivors