Psychoeducation
True or False:
Child sexual abuse happens to a lot of children
True. 1 in 5 girls experiences child sexual abuse
What are some signs you might be feeling stressed vs. relaxed?
(e.g., tense muscles vs loose muscles, antsy energy vs calm energy, fast breathing or fast heartbeat vs typical pace)
Name three feelings
(e.g., happy, sad, angry, scared...)
Define the following: A thought, a feeling, and an action
thought - words in our head
feeling - emotions and/or physical sensations
action - something we do or don't do
What are some ways children might feel if they have been sexually abused?
(e.g., angry, scared, confused, mixed emotions)
True of false:
I can only use relaxation skills when thinking about traumas or difficult experiences
False. You can use relaxation skills any time
What is the best way to know how someone is feeling?
a) guess
b) ask them
c) most people are probably just happy all the time
b) ask them
True or false: If I think something, it must be true
False. Some thought are not true, and some thoughts are not helpful. Thoughts are just words in our brains that can be helpful or hurtful
True or false:
It is sometimes the child's fault sexual abuse happened if they didn't fight the abuser off
False. Child sexual abuse is NEVER the child's fault. It is always the abuser's fault.
When we are stressed, we can use things around us or a sensory toolkit to relax our bodies. What are some ways you can stimulate your sense of smell?
(e.g., a favorite lotion or soap, a perfume, a snack, smell something in nature)
Are there any emotions that are bad for people to have?
There is no such thing as a "bad" emotion. We have them all for a reason. We may have "uncomfortable" feelings that lead to hurtful actions
Is this a helpful or an hurtful thought:
"If I let people in, they will only ever hurt me"
hurtful
Does everyone react to traumatic experiences the same?
No, people can have many different reactions. We all react differently and we all show our feelings about it differently.
How can you use the safe place skill to relax? What are some things you would see in your safe place?
Draw a picture or imagine your safe place in your mind. If you get stressed, take a pause and think about your relaxing safe place.
What are 2 things you can do to help yourself feel better when you are sad?
(e.g., watch funny videos, talk to a friend or family, use a relaxation skill)
Which of the following are ways I can reduce uncomfortable feelings?
a) practice noticing positive things around me (i.e., gratitude)
b) Call out my hurtful thoughts and see if I can change them to something more helpful
c) Always ignore my thoughts and feelings and pretend I'm alright
d) Practice positive self-talk that makes me feel good
A, B, and D
Many children don't tell about child sexual abuse. What are some reasons why?
(e.g., they are scared no one will believe them, the abuser tells them to keep it secret, they are worried about hurting the family)
What is progressive muscle relaxation. Show an example of how it works.
PMR is squeezing your muscles tight, and then relaxing them.
What are some helpful ways we can express our feelings?
(e.g., talking to someone, writing it down, finding a video or song or meme that relates to how we are feeling)
What is a more helpful thought you can use to replace this one?
"What's wrong with me? I always do everything wrong"
(e.g., I don't do everything wrong, and I'm allowed to make mistakes)