Therapy groups for women sexually molested as children

Abstract

A neglected class of sexual assault victims consists of women who were molested as children. In response to their unmet needs, therapy groups composed solely of women who were sexually abused in their childhood have been established. The goals of these groups are twofold: (1) the alleviation of sexual guilt and shame and (2) the clarification of emotional and behavioral consequences of molestation. Ten groups have been conducted, each containing four to six members, comprising an overall total of 50 women. In 97% of the cases, a prior relationship had existed between perpetrator and victim. Treatment consisted of a four-session format. During session I, each group participant described her molestation experiences in detail. Sessions II and III focused on how these experiences have affected the women. Session IV dealt with individual stages of recovery and further treatment plans. Clinical findings included feelings of guilt and depression, negative self-image, and problems in interpersonal relationships associated with an underlying mistrust of men, inadequate social skills, and difficulties in sexual functioning. Evaluations of the therapy groups by the participants indicated that the primary curative component was the sense of identification and emotional closeness instilled by a warm and supportive environment where a common bond was shared.

Measuring Abuse Sequelae: Validating and Extending the Trauma Symptom Checklist–40

“…In contrast, Messman-Moore and colleagues (2010) Another potential limitation of the research is that it is based upon self-report data on a topic about which people may not want to accurately report. Research has strongly suggested that CSA and CPA are often undisclosed and underreported (Bagley, 1992;Browne & Finkelhor, 1986;Goodman-Brown, Edelstein, Goodman, Johnes, & Gordon, 2003;McKinney, Harris, & Caetano, 2009;Tsai & Wagner, 1978). Several reasons exist for this phenomenon, including a lack of opportunity to report, discomfort reporting to a stranger, fearfulness of retaliation by the perpetrator, shame and embarrassment about the abuse, or fear that people not believe them (Bagley, 1992;Goodman-Brown et al, 2003;McKinney et al, 2009;Tsai & Wagner, 1978).…”

Interpersonal functioning among women reporting a history of childhood sexual abuse: empirical findings and methodological issues

“….marked by bitterness and contempt" (p. 81). Others have observed that women in clinical samples commonly express feelings of anger toward their mothers (Tsai & Wagner, 1978), perhaps feeling more hostility toward their maternal caregivers than toward the perpetrator himself (DeYoung, 1982). Some rather consistent evidence of strained maternal relations comes from a study finding that survivors and nonabused women differed across all five subscales of a measure assessing their relationships with their mothers (Lubell & Peterson, 1998).…”

Friendship between women : the influence of incest

“…This will cause a repetition of the incestuous family system, in which her husband is able to sexually abuse one or more of her children. (Herman & Hirschman, 1977: Tsai & Wagner, 1978: Burgess, et al, 1978. In 1968, Yvonne…”

“…The mother in the profile is seen as acceptable when she exhibits a personality that is yielding, accepting of second-class status, unsure, ambivalent and slightly confused (Rush, 1980 finding that survivors are having more difficulty expressing their anger and rage towards the mother than towards the perpetrator (Herman & Hirschman, 1977). Some clinicians reconunend that therapy should focus on this pivotal issue (Cohen, 1983: Herman & Hirschman, 1977: Tsai & Wagner, 1978. Cohen (1983) interprets that the greater intensity of anger towards the mother is due to the daughter's conflicting feelings toward the mother.…”