ABSTRACT

This chapter looks at several predisposing factors to any treatment consideration and discusses specific treatment techniques that work with survivors. The decision to share any details of his/her sexual abuse or to disclose the full story must always be the survivor's. Since control was the major element of the abuse from the offender's need-perspective, one of the therapist's initial functions in therapy is to return all control to the survivor. One of the major legal, moral, and ethical issues that affects the therapist working with survivors concerns the credibility or validity of the survivor's story. At the minimum, attendance at a full three-day Sex-Attitude-Restructuring training seminar should be a mandatory training prerequisite for all therapists planning to specialize in or work with survivors of sexual abuse to preclude this from occurring. Provision is made in the small groups for role plays of minority sexual groups including homosexuals, lesbians, persons with aids (PWA's), sexually active adolescents, parents.