NCJ Number
161008
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (1995) Pages: 31-54
Date Published
1995
Length
24 pages
Annotation
While reports of out-of-home child sexual abuse and realization of its traumatic effects have increased, there is little in the literature to guide therapists as to specific treatment techniques for child victims.
Abstract
Accordingly, the authors present a detailed description of the actual process of outpatient therapy provided to 56 children (27 girls and 29 boys) who were alleged victims in a day care sexual abuse case. The majority of children were 5 or 6 years of age, almost half experienced some sort of physical or emotional illness prior to attending the day care center, and problems presented by the children were multiple and serious. The children attended an average of 41 therapy sessions. Planned therapy goals addressed feelings about the abuse, acting out problems, fears, nightmares, and self-esteem issues. Therapists used a wide range of techniques, differentiated to some extent according to treatment goal. Most therapy activities reflected a psychotherapeutic approach, and educational interventions were also evident. Social integration approaches were less frequently employed. Therapy duration related to the occurrence of family crises, case termination reasons, presence of a treatment goal involving fear reduction, and family income. The family income finding was surprising, given the fact that therapy was provided at government expense. Implications of the study findings are discussed in terms of the need to develop more child treatment models, to better examine decisionmaking about treatment length and use of multiple treatment modalities, and to increase family retention in therapy by adjusting appointment times and encouraging parental involvement. 30 references, 1 note, and 5 tables