Childhood Sexual Abuse: From Conceptualization to Treatment

Abstract

There is a common belief that one's home is one's shelter. It provides safety and predictability, and as such it is experienced as a point of departure and a landing pad. Similarly, one's body is perceived by humans to be their souls' home, and as such the body is attributed the characteristics of a home. The body is the soul's private space. Evidence indicates that people exhibit strong physical and emotional reactions to personal space violations [12] that are produced by the amygdala, particularly if the intimate zone reserved for loved ones, is invaded. People view their personal space serving as buffer vis-à-vis the external world, and it is essential that they experience control and responsibility over it [13]. Sexually penetrating a child's body means breaking into the child's personal space, invading the child's intimate zone. This violation

Brain and Mind Integration: Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivors Experiencing Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment and Psychotherapy Concurrently

“…The results of this study seem to support Lev-Wiesel and Amir (2014) and Lev-Wiesel (2015) recent conceptualization of childhood sexual abuse. It posits the following five traumagenic constructs: mind/soul's homelessness—the split between the body and mind, captured in time—the present and future as reflections of the past, entrapped in distorted intimacy—lack of authenticity, betrayal entrapment—the all in all betrayal, and re-enactment—the need to relive the experience.…”

“…It posits the following five traumagenic constructs: mind/soul's homelessness—the split between the body and mind, captured in time—the present and future as reflections of the past, entrapped in distorted intimacy—lack of authenticity, betrayal entrapment—the all in all betrayal, and re-enactment—the need to relive the experience. From a clinical therapeutic view (Lev-Wiesel, 2015), a split between the mind and body occurs (Van der Kolk, 2000) since the child can no longer perceive the body as “safe home.” Escaping the abusive situation can be often possible only virtually in the victim's mind, whereas the body continues to endure suffering (Silberg, 2014). In an attempt not to feel, not to hear, not to see, not to be, dissociation is activated, dividing the child's personality (the dynamic, biopsychosocial system as a whole) into dissociative subsystems that are insufficiently integrated dynamic but excessively stable (Nijenhuis and van der Hart, 2011).…”

“…Results showed three phases, the initial phase—remembering the trauma from both physical and cognitive aspects, the second phase—physiological relaxation as well as positive memories emerge; and, the third phase—bouncing back to life. The results are discussed in light of the study theoretical model and Lev-Wiesel (2015) childhood sexual abuse conceptualization.…”

“…To achieve persistent recovery, all aspects, psychological and physiological, must be targeted. This led Lev-Wiesel (Lev-Wiesel, 2015) to suggest and clinically implement the specific treatment of creative art psychotherapy model that aims to restore integration between body and mind. The model uses the physical expression (through art means) to process the energy stored in the body, which resets the neurological system into better balance.…”

Promoting Personal Growth through Experiential Learning: The Case of Expressive Arts Therapy for Lecturers in Thailand

“…The expressive arts therapies is an hybrid therapeutic profession aiming toward a better integration between body and mind (Lev-Wiesel, 2015 ). According to Lusebrink et al ( 2012 ) expressive arts therapies consists of three stepwise levels—Kinaesthetic/Sensory, Perceptual/Affective and Cognitive/Symbolic—interconnected by the creative level.…”