Associated Symptoms
Core Trauma Response
PTSD, Dissociation, Cognitive distortions
Traumatic Sexualization
Distorted views of sexuality due to abuse
What Parents Need to Know About Sexual Abuse
Provides parents/caregivers information on the importance of talking to children and youth about body safety and guidance on how to respond when children disclose sexual abuse.
Problematic Sexual Behavior-Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for School-Age Children
A family-oriented, cognitive-behavioral, psychoeducational, and supportive treatment group designed to reduce or eliminate incidents of problematic sexual behavior. Involves ongoing assessment of child progress in treatment.
Child characteristics
Age: 7-13 year olds most a risk
Gender: Girls 3-5x more at risk
Vulnerability Traits: Disability and Personality
Substance Use (teens)
Prior history of sexual abuse
Secondary Trauma Response
Depression and Anxiety
Betrayal
Loss of faith in trusted adult(s)
Reducing the Risk of Child Sexual Abuse
Be involved in the child's life, show interesting in their day-to-day lives, get to know the people in your child's life, choose caregivers carefully and know the warning signs.
Encourage children to speak up, teach them about boundaries, teach them how to talk about their body, let them know they won't get in trouble.
Risk Reduction Through Family Therapy
is individualized to the needs, strengths, developmental factors, and cultural background of each adolescent and family. It targets a broad range of trauma-related psychopathology like PTSD and depression. Risk behaviors like substance use/abuse and risky sexual behavior.
Offender Characteristics
Age:Not dirty old men
Relationship to Child: Not stranger danger
Childhood victimization: Own history of sexual abuse and exposure to "harsh discipline"
Other symptoms
Aggression, self-esteem difficulties, the use of maladaptive coping styles, interpersonal difficulties and sexualized behavior.
Powerlessness
Feel helpless to stop the abuse
Educator Sexual Misconduct in Schools
Explores the importance of knowing the difference between appropriate and inappropriate school staff behavior with students.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma and their parents or caregivers. It incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic principles and techniques. Can be used with children and adolescents who have experienced a single trauma or multiple traumas in their lives.
Family Characteristics
Family constellation: Married, biological parents- lowest risk. Single parent/live-in partner- highest risk
Family "chaos"
Limited maternal "availability" Employment, Disability/Illness and Mental illness/substance abuse
Parental history of sexual victimization
Stigmatization
Perception of being "bad" or deserving of the abuse