ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with working with adult survivors of childhood abuse. The principles used in dealing with abuse in younger people are similar; however, the legal framework is quite different.
I receive referrals from other nurses because they do not feel confident or competent to work with sexual abuse. Indeed, some professionals are afraid to work with people’s stories and narratives when they include sexual abuse. My understanding of sexual abuse is based on both personal and professional experience. My knowledge is, therefore, the result of an exploration of those twin experiences and their results on the person as an adult. I believe in a very simple approach to people with an experience of sexual abuse. All that you need to help most people is a warm, interested and caring human approach. If people can explore their experiences, help them to own them and then to make decisions in their life about how they wish to move on and thrive (see the THRIVE manual1).
