Does counseling and treatment really help a child who has been sexually abused?

Does counseling and treatment really help a child who has been sexually abused?  Yes!  Believing a child’s disclosure of abuse and making the recommended treatment a priority is critical to achieving positive results for children who have been sexually abused.  In fact, some studies show they are the very things a parent and/or caregiver can do to help a child heal and move beyond the negative effects of sexual abuse.

There are several types of psychological treatment that have demonstrated positive benefits to children who have been victimized by sexual abuse.  These include individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy.  Specialized treatment for this population should be trauma-focused, structured and targets the specific symptoms of sexual abuse. 

What is important for parents and/or caregivers to remember here is that the experience of each child is a unique one, which is why the assessment and recommended treatment plan for each child may also be unique.  While some children do require extensive counseling and mental health treatment following sexual abuse, others may not. If you are the parent and/or caregiver of a victim of sexual abuse, make every effort to seek counseling with a professional who is both specially trained and experienced in working with child sexual abuse.  If you are not sure, ask!  A reputable mental health professional that understands and treats child sexual abuse victims will understand and should welcome your questions.  The key for parents and/or caregivers is to establish and maintain good communication with a child’s treatment provider and to actively participate in the treatment plan as outlined and requested by the child’s mental health provider – even if that means seeking individual counseling to address their own feelings and issues about what has happened to their child. 

The Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center has a specially trained therapist on-site to provide and coordinate assessments and counseling services for children and their non-offending family members and/or caregivers.  The Center does not maintain a “waiting list” for mental health services and makes every effort to connect children to mental health services as soon as possible.   The coordination of services for children and families living in the outlying counties is also provided, whenever possible.