Play therapy with children affected by sexual abuse

This chapter explores some of the elements of undertaking play therapy with children affected by sexual abuse. It focuses on the factors that promote a safe intervention for the child, within legal framework. The chapter discusses the child’s experiences prior to therapy and explores preliminary meetings and potential blocks to developing a therapeutic relationship. The chapter explores the definition and parameters of sexual abuse before considering the impact of the experience on the child and their family. It deals with a discussion of the care-giver response and the implications of video-recording the therapy sessions. The consideration of the possibility of sexual harm is not always at the forefront of most therapists’ minds when accepting a referral for therapy. In order for sexual harm to be seen, understood and accepted as a possibility by the therapist, a definition is needed to give parameters around what is abuse and what is ordinary, and healthy sexual development.