NCJ Number
145431
Journal
Journal of Counseling and Development Volume: 71 Issue: 1 Dated: (September/October 1992) Pages: 33-38
Date Published
1992
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Because of the prevalence of child sexual abuse, many adult counseling clients will have sexual abuse in their histories, and counselors should familiarize themselves with symptoms of sexual abuse survivors to facilitate client disclosure.
Abstract
Sexual abuse survivors often exhibit repression and denial, and they often seek counseling for issues other than the sexual abuse itself. They may not volunteer information related to sexual abuse; therefore, mental health counselors must be able to identify symptoms presented by sexual abuse survivors and facilitate recovery, disclosure, and successful resolution of abuse memories. Identifying symptoms of sexual abuse include depression, anxiety, somatization, guilt, shame, difficulty in relationships, denial, repression, and dissociation. Treatment considerations and counseling goals are examined, and the impact of child sexual abuse on victims is discussed. The author recommends that both individual and group counseling techniques be employed to facilitate disclosure by sexual abuse survivors and that counselors provide a safe environment in which survivors can examine the pervasive impact of abuse on their lives and resolve the trauma. An appendix lists child sexual abuse symptoms. 39 references