NCJ Number
157518
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (1995) Pages: 1-17
Date Published
1995
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This discussion of the experience of a male-female team of therapists who work with single-gender groups of adult survivors of child sexual abuse concludes that mix-gender co-therapy has a definite role in the treatment of adults molested as children.
Abstract
Controversy exists regarding whether survivors of childhood sexual abuse are better served in group treatment by therapists who share their gender. The authors of this article have functioned as a female-male therapy team with groups of both males and females. The groups were originally designed for 10 weeks, but quickly evolved into an open-ended format. The participants were mainly white, middle class, and in their 30's. The most common diagnoses are post- traumatic stress disorder and major depression. The themes discussed in therapy that were directly affected by the therapists' genders included initial joining, trust, anger, sexuality, and competence. The authors' experience indicates that female-male therapy teams pay extremely close attention to the issues raised by gender. They must place great emphasis on their working relationship, demonstrate mutual respect, and model an openness to examining gender roles. However, the therapist's competence, sensitivity, and experience are probably more important factors than gender in the long-term outcome of treatment. 24 references (Author abstract modified)