Interventions for Survivors of Sexual Trauma
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One in 6 females and one in 33 males have experienced some form of sexual trauma in their lives (RAINN, 2009). Many who seek treatment present with issues unrelated to sexual trauma. Given the high percentage of sexual trauma survivors, it is very likely that you will encounter clients with such a history during your career, regardless of your specialization. Therefore, it is important to familiarize yourself with a sexual trauma framework and skills specific to working with this population. While sexual trauma mostly occurs on an individual level, it also can have a significant impact on the family system. As a practitioner, you may intervene with the individual survivor, the parent(s) of a child who has been sexually abused, the spouse of a rape survivor, and/or the family system as a whole.
For this Discussion, select two types of sexual trauma from the readings this week and think about two interventions you might use for each and why.
Post a brief description of two types of sexual trauma. Then, describe two interventions you might use for each, and explain why you would select these interventions.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources.
Sample Solution
Two types of sexual trauma discussed in this week’s readings are childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and rape. CSA is defined as “any type of contact or noncontact sexual experience between an adult and child, ranging from fondling to penetration” (Bullock & Beckson, 2016, p.166). Rape includes any form of sexual coercion resulting in unwanted intercourse without the other party’s consent (Krahe et al., 2018).
When working with individuals who have experienced either CSA or rape, one intervention I might use is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which involves using behavioral strategies such as relaxation exercises along with cognitive restructuring to help a client recognize patterns in their thinking that may be contributing to their distress (Haigh & Brantley, 2017). Another intervention I might use is expressive writing, which can help clients process their experiences in a safe space while also providing them with valuable insight into how they respond to certain triggers such as flashbacks or intrusive thoughts related to the trauma they experienced (Lee et al., 2019). For those dealing with CSA specifically, art therapy has been found to be effective at decreasing symptom severity by providing an outlet for survivors to express emotions attached to the event through creative expression rather than verbal communication alone(Brayman et al., 2015). Additionally, it can serve as a distraction from symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder that many survivors deal with after experiencing significant trauma during childhood (Shonert-Reichl & Miller Anderson 2020).
In summary, CBT and expressive writing both provide clients dealing with CSA and rape opportunities for processing emotions related to their experiences in safety while art therapy offers those struggling with effects of CSA more freedom when communicating these feelings. All three interventions can be tailored depending on each individual’s needs so that clients feel most comfortable discussing topics related to their past trauma.
