NCJ Number
176487
Date Published
1998
Length
175 pages
Annotation
This book offers practical guidance on how to conduct a 13- session group composed of women survivors of childhood sexual abuse, as it emphasizes the discovery of solutions, strengths, and internal/external resources.
Abstract
The existing literature and the experiences of clients/counselors document the potential impact of childhood sexual abuse on cognitive, emotional, social, intellectual, mental, and spiritual spheres of life. Group therapy can be an important adjunct to individual therapy by providing an interactive context for healing work that addresses the debilitating consequences of sexual abuse. Due to individual differences, however, each situation must be carefully considered to determine the suitability of group work at a given point in the individual's life. In the safety of the group setting, participants have opportunities to experience connection, validation, commonality, encouragement, and new learning as they re-enter the larger, healing community. The healing work enables the individual to view the past as the bearer of important learning and as a potential resource for the present. The theoretical rationales for group treatment include the Ericksonian approach, the feminist perspective, narrative therapy, and the solution-oriented approach. Other themes emphasized in this book are resiliency-based and resource-based approaches; the importance of language in recovery from sexual abuse; and how to deal with issues such as relationships, telling one's story of abuse, building safety/boundaries, spirituality, cultivating a future, and dealing with flashbacks. This book can be a practical guide for students in counseling practicums. 139 references and a subject index