How Children Cope with Being Sexually Abused

How Children cope with being Sexually Abused.
Amanda Hope Reynolds
Lee University

Abstract
Every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services the definition of child abuse is “Fondling a child’s genitals, intercourse, incest, sodomy, exhibitionism, and sexual exploitation to be considered child abuse, these have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of the child.” (Lowenstein, L. (2011) “The Complexity of Investigating Possible Sexual Abuse of a Child”) Everyday around the world children are learning how to cope with being sexually abused. Coping with this type of abuse can be emotionally, physically, and legally difficult.

How Children Cope with being Sexually Abused Every year 3.3 million reports of child abuse are made in the United States. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services the definition of child abuse is “Fondling a child’s genitals, intercourse, incest, sodomy, exhibitionism, and sexual exploitation to be considered child abuse, these have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of the child.” (Lowenstein, L. (2011) “The Complexity of Investigating Possible Sexual Abuse of a Child”) Everyday around the world children are learning how to cope with being sexually abused. Coping with this type of abuse can be emotionally, physically, and legally difficult.
Emotionally
One who is sexually abuse at a younger age can be affected emotionally. It can eventually cause permanent damage. According to Lowenstein
“The effect on a child who has been sexually abused depends on several important aspects: whether the child is coerced and aggression and force is used, whether the child has been penetrated vaginally or anally, who the person is who carried out the abuse. Weather it is a stranger, a member of the family, or a close friend, the affect of the abuse perpetrated is much worse. In a case of older children, including adolescents, depression, self-harming, educational problem, hyperactivity, and suicidal ideations can occur emotionally. (Lowenstein, L. (2011) “The Complexity of Investigating Possible Sexual Abuse of a Child”) Sometimes disclosure of sexual abuse is delayed and this is often due to feelings of guilt, self-blame, helplessness, and being closely attached to the perpetrator.
Physically
The outcome of a child when physically abused differs within different age groups. In today’s society children of various age groups are being physically abused. According to Lowenstein these age groups differ in many ways.
“For example, the ages of a child from two to six tend to kiss nonfamily members voluntarily. They also undress in front of others without feeling shame; they sit with their crotch exposed and are aware of doing so. They touch their sex parts in public without feeling shame, they have sexual play with dolls, place objects in anus or vagina and request sexual stimulation from adults or from other children. Children of age’s seven to twelve tend to fondle nongenital areas, such as back and stomach, they are interested in engaging in sexual activities, they have age-inappropriate sexual knowledge, and there is overt sexual behavior.” (Lowenstein, L. (2011) “The Complexity of Investigating Possible Sexual Abuse of a Child”)
Although these age groups have different behaviors they also have similarities such as having the tendency to look at people undressing or looking at such an act surreptitiously, touching sexual parts at home, masturbating or stimulating one’s self even when company is present, and showing sexual parts to adults and children regularly.

Legally
When a child is sexually abused they and the family go through a legal process to put the perpetrator away. When one goes to court the court will do anything it can to protect the family and child’s privacy. According to National Child Traumatic Stress Network “Frequently when the victim is a child or an adolescent, lawyers can ask that TV cameras be banned from the courtroom and that only necessary people be allowed to remain there, such as witnesses and law enforcement officers.” (National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2009) “Child Sexual Abuse: Coping with the Emotional Stress of the Legal System”) Also when someone is going to court, the family has a fear of retaliation. Many children fear that their pedophile may come and hurt them again because they have told someone about what has happened to them. Another thing that often burdens the family is financial worries. Parents often miss work to go to court, or have trouble paying for legal, medical, and mental health services. According to National Child Traumatic Stress Network “Children are often sensitive to parents’ financial worries, and may blame themselves for causing financial stress.” Finally going to court for this issue children often miss school for court and other necessary appointments. When this occurs the parent needs to inform the school administration about allowing children to finish schoolwork on a schedule that takes into account their abuse-related needs.
Penn State Relation In what sounded at times like a locker room pep talk, Jerry Sandusky rambled in his red prison suit about being the underdog in the fourth quarter, about forgiveness, about dogs and about the movie “Seabiscuit.” (Associated Press. (2009) “Penn State child abuse case: Jerry Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years”) Jerry Sandusky the former football coach for Penn State was arrested and sentenced to 30-60 years in prison. Sandusky was convicted of 45 counts and found guilty of raping or fondling boys he had met through the acclaimed youth charity he founded. Sandusky was in denial and was said to be making excuses during his trial. During the trial Sandusky addressed his trial being publicized and stated:
“I speak today with hope in my heart for a brighter day, not knowing if that day will come, many moments have been spent looking for a purpose. Maybe it will help others, some vulnerable children who might have been abused, might not be, as a result of the publicity.” (Associated Press. (2009) “Penn State child abuse case: Jerry Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years”)
In the sentencing the judge called Sandusky dangerous, saying “You abused the trust of those who trusted you.” He also called Sandusky’s comments in the radio statement about a conspiracy against him “unbelievable.” (Associated Press. (2009) “Penn State child abuse case: Jerry Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years”)
Counseling
Counselors in a variety of setting will most likely be faced with clients with a history of child sexual abuse. Counselors need to be aware of what to expect in terms of their own personal issues when confronted with a sexual abuse survivor. According to a recent study done by Elliott and Briere; “32% of females and 13% of males surveyed in the general population reported a history of child sexual abuse involving physical contact.” (Jones, K. (1998) “Coping with Reactions to Clients Traumatized by Child Sexual Abuse”) When counseling it is important to fully understand how the experiences of working with sexual abuse survivors can affect counselors emotionally. The consequences of reactions can affect the welfare of the client through a disruption in the therapeutic relationship, denial and avoidance of the abuse history, or loss of boundaries between counselor and client. Unlike survivors of traumas in general, child sexual abuse elicits counselor responses specific to the act of sexual abuse itself, with factors relating to the client, the counselor, the treatment model, and the world view. It is these factors that contribute to the elicit counselor reactions that can affect treatment effectiveness and even harm the client. (Jones, K. (1998) “Coping with Reactions to Clients Traumatized by Child Sexual Abuse”) Counselors may become the target of clients’ anger, as survivor clients often cast the counselor in malevolent, dangerous, or exploitative roles that may assault a counselor’s identity. According to Elliot he suggests “that clinicians are even more likely than other professionals to have been sexually and/or physically abused. Counselors with abuse histories offer much in terms ability to believe clients’ abuse stories and relating to the client.” (Jones, K. (1998) “Coping with Reactions to Clients Traumatized by Child Sexual Abuse”) When counseling treatment is directed toward addressing the original trauma as well as its initial and chronic aftereffects, which involves the survivor to work through the original trauma, reliving and revising it, and substituting new and healthier coping behaviors and beliefs for those they developed in response to the trauma. Counselors must be prepared to listen to the story over and over again and observe the clients’ reactions to the stories. .” (Jones, K. (1998) “Coping with Reactions to Clients Traumatized by Child Sexual Abuse”)
“In many cases the counselor may begin to feel guilt about the sexual abuse survivor in many ways. Guilt may occur among counselors with happy childhoods and no history of sexual abuse; although understanding the therapeutic benefits of survivor clients venting their abuse stories, counselors may feel guilty for the client’s painful affect resulting from disclosing the details of his or her abuse; because of the long-term and challenging nature of counseling sexual abuse survivors, counselors may question their competency or feel guilty that they are not helping the client quickly enough. To cope with the guilt, counselors may treat the survivor client as a “special” client and not maintain professional boundaries. For example, the counselor may allow survivor clients to call the counselor at any time or at home, extend the length of time in sessions, or allow the client not to pay counseling fees all in the attempt to alleviate the guilt the counselor feels while working with the client.”
Conclusion
Everyday around the world children are learning how to cope with being sexually abused. Coping with this can be emotionally, physically, and legally. The definition of sexual abuse according to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services is “Fondling a child’s genitals, intercourse, incest, sodomy, exhibitionism, and sexual exploitation to be considered child abuse, these have to be committed by a person responsible for the care of the child.”

References
Associated Press. (2009). Penn State child abuse case: Jerry Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years: Indianapolis News . Url:http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20121009/NEWS/210090325/Penn-State- child-abuse-case-Jerry-Sandusky-senctenced-least-30- years?oddyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext7CIndyStar.com
Hebert, M., Tramblay, C., Parent, N., Daignault, I., Piche, C. (2006). Correlates of behavioral outcomes in sexually abused children. Journal of family violence, 21(5), p. 287-299. doi: 10.1007/510896-006-9026-2
Hodges, E., & Myers, J. (2010). Counseling adult women survivors of childhood sexual abuse: Benefits of a wellness approach. Journal of mental health counseling, 32(2), p. 139-154. Url: web.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org
Jones, K., Robinson, E., Minatrea, N., Hayes, B. (1998). Coping with reactions to clients traumatized by sexual abuse. Journal of mental health counseling, 20(4), p.332- 343. url: web.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org
Ligiero, D., Fassinger, R., McCauley, M., Moore, J., Lyytinen, N. (2009). Childhood sexual abuse culture and coping: Aqualitative study of Latinas. Psychology of women quarterly, 33(1), p. 67-80, doi: 10.111/j.1471-6402.2008.01475.x
Lowenstein, L. (2011). The complexity of Investigating Possible Sexual Abuse of a Child. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 39(1), p. 292-298, doi: 10.1080.01926187.2010.551739
National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2009). Child Sexual Abuse: Coping with the Emotional Stress of the Legal System. url: http://kids.delaware.gov/pdfs/dscyf_trauma_emotionlaimpactoflegalsystem.pdf

References: Associated Press. (2009). Penn State child abuse case: Jerry Sandusky sentenced to at least 30 years: Indianapolis News . Url:http://www.indystar.com/viewart/20121009/NEWS/210090325/Penn-State- child-abuse-case-Jerry-Sandusky-senctenced-least-30- years?oddyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext7CIndyStar.com Hebert, M., Tramblay, C., Parent, N., Daignault, I., Piche, C. (2006). Correlates of behavioral outcomes in sexually abused children. Journal of family violence, 21(5), p. 287-299. doi: 10.1007/510896-006-9026-2 Hodges, E., & Myers, J. (2010). Counseling adult women survivors of childhood sexual abuse: Benefits of a wellness approach. Journal of mental health counseling, 32(2), p. 139-154. Url: web.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org Jones, K., Robinson, E., Minatrea, N., Hayes, B. (1998). Coping with reactions to clients traumatized by sexual abuse. Journal of mental health counseling, 20(4), p.332- 343. url: web.ebscohost.com.library.acaweb.org Ligiero, D., Fassinger, R., McCauley, M., Moore, J., Lyytinen, N. (2009). Childhood sexual abuse culture and coping: Aqualitative study of Latinas. Psychology of women quarterly, 33(1), p. 67-80, doi: 10.111/j.1471-6402.2008.01475.x Lowenstein, L. (2011). The complexity of Investigating Possible Sexual Abuse of a Child. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 39(1), p. 292-298, doi: 10.1080.01926187.2010.551739 National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (2009). Child Sexual Abuse: Coping with the Emotional Stress of the Legal System. url: http://kids.delaware.gov/pdfs/dscyf_trauma_emotionlaimpactoflegalsystem.pdf