Recent empirical studies have tried to overcome the methodological weaknesses of earlier research. They have found that abused children as a group differ behaviorally from nonabused children, but overall they have less pathology than a psychiatrically disturbed population. Abused children vary widely in the level of disturbance. The most consistent effects are in sexual behavior and anxiety symptoms. The therapy should focus directly on the abuse or it will miss issues of significance for the child's psychological development. The two basic goals of therapy are emotional processing and cognitive processing of the experience. A thorough assessment should take place before treatment begins. Therapy should begin with a focus on the crisis response to disclosure and continue with emotional and cognitive processing. Issues that often appear during therapy are distorted ideas about sexuality, mistrust of others due to the betrayal of a relationship, powerlessness, stigmatization, and the need for emotional ventilation. In addition, intervention with the family can educate the parents about victimization and its impact and provide the parent with direction in supporting and assisting the child in the family environment. 62 references