Trauma and PTSD
True or False: PTSD is a permanent, life-long condition.
False! PTSD is treatable, and PTSD symptoms tend to go down over time with the proper treatment.
What will a normal therapy session look like in TF-CBT?
1/2 the time with the child, and 1/2 the time with the caregiver/parent
What is sexual assault?
Sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Includes attempted rape, fondling or unwanted sexual touching, forcing a victim to perform sexual acts, and penetration of the victim’s body, also known as rape.
What is sexual abuse?
Sexual abuse is any time someone in a position of power—physical, emotional, or psychological—engages another person to do something sexual that is age inappropriate, uncomfortable, or against their will.
Why do people develop PTSD symptoms after going through trauma?
Many factors contribute to developing PTSD, such as how our brains are wired and what is going on in our environment. But ultimately, PTSD symptoms are just people's bodies are trying to protect themselves. When we are unsafe, those symptoms help us. But when we are no longer unsafe, those symptoms tend to hurt us.
What will we be tracking each week in therapy?
The 3 symptoms that bother us the most. These are the symptoms that we expect to see go down over time.
How common is sexual assault?
Over half of women and almost one in three men have experienced sexual violence involving physical contact during their lifetimes. One in five women in the United States experienced completed or attempted rape during their lifetime.
How common is sexual abuse?
One in four girls, and one in six boys, experience some form of sexual abuse before they turn 18.
What is trauma?
Trauma is when a person experiences an event as scary or harmful, and it has long-term effects on how they think, feel, and act.
How soon do people start to feel better with this type of therapy? (even a little)
Within about 1 month from the first treatment session.
True or False: Sexual assault is usually perpetrated by a stranger.
False. 3 out of 4 sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows.
Why do many kids who experience sexual abuse not tell an adult immediately?
There are many reasons. In many cases, kids may be scared to get in trouble, afraid of being harmed by the perpetrator, confused about what is happening or whether it is okay, or ashamed or guilty about what has happened.
What are the main types of PTSD symptoms?
Distressing memories, avoidance of the past, negative thoughts, and strong reactions in the body.
True or False: In therapy, the child and parent/caregiver will usually have some kind of homework each week to practice.
True. Weekly homework assignments, which focus on the skills practiced in session, will help the child get better faster and recognize progress in themselves.
What are some ways that experiencing sexual assault can affect a person?
Physical effects include bruising and genital injuries, sexually transmitted infections, and pregnancy (for women). Mental effects include PTSD, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
What are some ways that experiencing sexual abuse can affect a person?
PTSD, depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, self-harm behaviors, difficulty sleeping, belief that oneself or other people are bad.
With trauma, what are things we can NOT change, and what are things we CAN change?
We cannot change what happened. The past is the past.
We CAN change our relationship to the traumatic experience, how we react now, the skills we use, and how we move forward in life.
True or False: Once treatment starts, the child and parent/guardian will never work together in therapy.
False. Every couple of weeks, the child and parent/guardian will come together to share what they have learned and practice together. The child and parent/guardian will also support each other outside of sessions.
True or False: The perpetrator is the only person responsible for the sexual assault.
True. Actions that we and our loved ones take (or don't take) can help increase or decrease our risk for experiencing sexual assault, but the blame always lies solely on the shoulders of the person who committed the crime.
True or False: If a person does not say "no" to a sexual act, then consent has implicitly been given.
False. Consent has only been provided when a person gives a clear "yes" of their own volition. Silence, or a pressured "yes," do NOT count as consent. Consent can also be withdrawn at any time.