‘The space between’: Role-play as a tool in the treatment of child sexual abuse

Abstract

<jats:p> Child sexual abuse is a traumatic experience which may have a negative impact on a child’s attachment processes and sense of safety. A dramatherapy model that has been proposed for the treatment of child sexual abuse is the regenerative model. The regenerative model utilises role-play as a form of treatment and allows children to experiment with different roles in order to gain control of their experience and feel safe again. This article discusses a dramatherapy approach to the treatment of child sexual abuse on the basis of the regenerative model. It first introduces the model, and more specifically the concept of ‘the space between’ the therapist and the child. It then describes a case example and the use of role-play as a vehicle to explore emotions and thoughts and to process the traumatic experience symbolically. It concludes with the contention that dramatherapy, grounded on the regenerative model, may provide a safe space to work through the trauma relevant to child sexual abuse, in order to help a child heal and be able to form new, healthy attachment relationships. </jats:p>

The reflection of desire for revenge and revenge fantasies in drawings and narratives of sexually abused children

“…The findings seem to broaden our understanding of the psychological meaning of living with a history of CSA who may desire revenge and reverse their state as victims to step out of it (Goldner et al, 2019; Iordanou, 2019). Additionally, findings shed light on how the desire for revenge and revenge fantasies can serve via drawings and narratives as a coping strategy and a way to express complicated feelings (Lev‐Wiesel et al, 2020).…”

“…In addition, it directs survivors' destructive anger outwardly towards the attacker instead of inwards (Berger, 2014; Gollwitzer & Denzler, 2009), providing the survivors with some degree of emotional closure (Haen & Weber, 2009) and, above all, draw the line between what is right and what is wrong, who is responsible and should carry the blame and who should not. In the latter sense, a desire for revenge is self‐protective, stabilizing the psyche and transforming the victim's behaviour from passive to active, thus, regaining a sense of control and self‐esteem which is required for recovering (Iordanou, 2019; Strelan et al, 2020). Creative tools such as drawings are useful techniques for expressing socially unacceptable desires such as the desire for revenge, encouraging verbalization and enriching the narratives, which may promote recovery (Lev‐Wiesel et al, 2020; McInnes, 2019).…”

“…However, the automatic desire for revenge when being unjustly insulted or hurt seems to be neglected in treating children who experienced sexual abuse (Davidson et al, 2013; Goldberg, 2004). The desire for revenge followed by revenge fantasies (Berger, 2014) is defined as a natural human impulse in response to harm to oneself, aims to undo the injustice and acquire back the victim's self‐dignity and self‐respect (Field & Chhim, 2008; Iordanou, 2019). Although retaliating against the transgressor is often considered harmful because it may be involving in property damage or physical harm (Mulvey et al, 2020; Van Denderen et al, 2014), numerous studies reported the empowering benefits of the desire for revenge and revenge fantasies, such as feeling satisfaction (Crombag et al, 2003), reducing aggression (Gollwitzer & Denzler, 2009), enhancing victims' feelings of empowerment (Strelan et al, 2020; Twardawski et al, 2021) and sense of justice (Funk et al, 2014).…”

“Don’t Touch My Body!” Child Sexual Abuse Training Program for Future Pre-School Educators: A Single-Blind, Pre-Test/Post-Test, Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Child sexual abuse (CSA) afflicts 8-32% of children worldwide (Iordanou, 2019). The sexual crime victimization (SCV) rate in 2020 was 12% (Morgan &Thompson, 2022).…”