The Use of Narrative Therapy and Internal Family Systems with Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Social, Cultural and Family Practices as Determinants of Narratives and the Self-Image of 11 Women with Histories of Child Sexual Abuse

“…One women identified the mechanisms used by their aggressor to keep the abuse in secret, such as tell her that his mother would not love her anymore; this is part of the tendency of the aggressor to blame the victim [14].…”

“…Regarding this, Miller, Parra & Hardin point out that there is a tendency from perpetrators of blaming their victims of child sexual abuse for their provocative behavior [14], which reflects and promotes social beliefs that justify the perpetrator, beliefs as, victims wanted it or enjoyed it and that the men does not have sexual control, so that the woman is responsible of the sexual control of the man, these beliefs contribute to forming the identity of the women; in addition, the lack of trust on children or the unbelief of relatives will have important effects on the identity in formation; in relation to this, White mentions that dominant speeches are constructed based on the belief that the arguments of the children are invalid or trustworthy and that children lie, while adults tell the truth [15]; in addition, child sexual abuse can lay the foundations for the construction of an identity permeated by incapacity of control and autonomy; so, according to this Magnabosco explains that in the sexual abuse situation the victim is treated as an object and their decision and autonomy are not respected, which can contribute to the formation of an identity where they are seen themselves with a lack of control [7].…”

Child Sexual Abuse in the United States: Perspectives on Assessment and Intervention

“…Such gratification can involve explicit sexual acts, or may involve invasive and inappropriate actions not directly involving contact (Miller, Cardona, & Hardin, 2007). Child sexual exploitation can involve the following: possession, manufacture and distribution of child pornography; online enticement of children for sexual acts; child prostitution; child sex tourism; and child sexual molestation.…”

“…Other adult-related challenges that can manifest in children include: depression, anxiety, substance abuse (Cohen & Mannarino, 2008;Saywitz, Mannarino, Berliner, & Cohen, 2000), and eating disorders (Brewerton, 2007). Older children and adolescents may also grieve the loss of their childhood and innocence (Miller et al, 2007). It is not uncommon for children experiencing intense feelings of loss or grief to be diagnosed with depression.…”

Thematic review of family therapy journals in 2007

“…There were particularly insightful papers by a therapist who described being hospitalized for psychosis (Foss, 2007); and by a Norwegian woman who gave an account of growing up with a mother who had psychiatric difficulties and the impact of this upon her life (Walnum, 2007). In the Journal of Feminist Family Therapy , Cheon and Murphy (2007) presented practices involving the use of self in marriage and family therapy, drawing on narrative, collaborative language systems, and feminist approaches; and Miller et al (2007) outlined the use of narrative therapy and internal family systems with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. In Contemporary Family Therapy , Saltzburg (2007) described a narrative therapy approach for working with families of adolescents coming out as lesbian, gay and bisexual.…”