NCJ Number
182744
Date Published
2000
Length
324 pages
Annotation
This is a guide for facilitators of therapy and support groups for sexually abused children.
Abstract
The book recommends that, to be effective, facilitators have specialized training in the dynamics of sexual abuse; the effects of victimization; grief and coping skills; the roots of violence/oppression; the State’s mandated reporting laws; and ethics rules and confidentiality requirements. The book is divided into 12 sections: (1) Introduction, which discusses who should use the book and how to use it; (2) Therapy Groups and Support Groups: Differences, Goals, and Group Flow; (3) Special Considerations in Setting Up Groups; (4) Group Format; (5) Screening Group Members; (6) Safety and Trust Exercises; (7) Self-Esteem Exercises; (8) Internal and External Boundaries Exercises; (9) Dynamics of Sexual Abuse Exercises; (10) Trigger Response Exercises; (11) Healthy Body Image and Self-Protection Exercises; and (12) Closing Exercises, including Debriefing and Evaluating Group. Each exercise is followed by information on what to do if participants are not responding as expected or if there may be other ways to do the exercise. Some of the exercises are for use only in a therapy group, as they may trigger memories or feelings to such a degree that children in the group should have a trained clinician help them process their emotions. Tables, appendix, references