Why is sexual abuse disclosure so hard for teenagers? Imagine you are a teenager who was sexually abused as a child or as a teenager. The idea of a safe person will instantly change after sexual abuse. This is especially true for teenagers who were sexually abused by a close family member. It is also alarming to share about sexual abuse that happened with someone outside of the family. The thought of sexual abuse disclosure …
The words that we speak to ourselves and others matter. It is especially important to speak life–giving words to children and youth survivors of sexual abuse. How often do we hear words that spark us back to life? Do we believe that we are valuable, worthy, and loved even when we make mistakes? Do we believe that we are a mistake? Throughout the day, our brain has thousands of thoughts that either influence in a …
Why is emotional support a necessary part of the healing process for children and youth who are survivors of sexual abuse? Emotional support means showing empathy, compassion, and genuine concern for others; this leads to greater emotional well-being. An important aspect of the process is helping children and youth regulate their emotions. Emotional regulation is the process of building and establishing healthy friendships (Hebert, Langevin, & Oussaid, 2018). Having emotional support systems will help them …
What are Some Roadblocks to Building Healthy Friendships? #1 Safety Children and youth survivors of sexual abuse (CSA) may have trouble feeling emotionally and physically safe enough to trust another person after experiencing abuse (Rosenthal, Feiring, & Taska, 2003). What constitutes safety may be perceived differently for every child based on culture and family background. Here are some components of a sense of safety that are common to most people: Emotionally: Feeling comfortable with your …
Why is it important to understand the impact of sexual abuse on children and youth? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines childhood sexual abuse as the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully understand.” (WHO, 1999). Childhood sexual abuse may also include indirect harm to a child who either witnessed sexual abuse, or was subjected to comments or gestures with sexual connotations. In any case, childhood sexual abuse …