NCJ Number
140586
Date Published
Unknown
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Therapists should evaluate their own psychological background carefully before providing treatment services to victims of sexual abuse, because they may not be able to achieve their therapeutic goals if they are unable to resolve their own interpersonal conflicts and past sexual abuse.
Abstract
In 1978, the author founded Alternatives to Sexual Abuse, an institution providing interdisciplinary training programs that focus on the assessment and treatment of sexually abused children. During these programs, professionals have shared their uncomfortable feelings and reactions when treating sexually abused children. When the therapist is a victim of sexual abuse, the negative reations may be far more overwhelming. Therapists may not recognize their own posttraumatic stress and may behave in ways that are unhealthy to the unsuspecting client. As a result, services may be counterproductive or otherwise inappropriate. The main goal of therapeutic assistance is to free the client of a number of undesirable psychological characteristics while replacing them with positive psychological traits and behaviors. To accomplish this, therapists must address the factors that may hinder their own objectivity and effectiveness. 20 references