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January 30, 2006

Working With Victims Of Sexual Abuse

A new client turned out to be a child victims advocate. They help set up clinics around the country to help children who have been touched by sexual abuse. The population that they are working hardest to help is youth offenders, the theory being that with early intervention they can change this population's thinking and behavior about what they are doing.

This client had some amazing statistics. Sexual abuse is epidemic. Only two percent of sexual offenders end up in the judicial system. Of the people who come for massage we should expect one in three women will have been sexually abused. One in five men will have been sexually abused.

If these statistics are correct, it is the responsibility of practicing therapists and schools to prepare for how to handle and refer this population to the appropriate professionals.

What constitutes sexual abuse? Sexual abuse falls into three different categories: 1) molestation, which is defined as the touching or fondling of the genitals of a child, or asking a child to touch or fondle an adult's genitals, or using a child to enhance pleasure from sexual acts or pornography; 2) sexual intercourse, which includes vaginal, oral, or rectal penetration; 3) rape.

It's important to remember that children aren't the only victims of sexual abuse. In fact, any physical or emotional abuse can cause the victim to dissociate from their body. Disclosure of abuse by a client can put the massage therapist at risk for vicarious traumatization.

Vicarious traumatization is a term used to describe the impact on the therapist when addressing trauma. This impact is a direct reflection of the therapist's vulnerabilities and blind spots, or failures to be wisely self-protective. Massage therapists, bodyworkers and healers of all kinds are receptive to vicarious trauma, particularly when they are uneducated or unconscious about trauma itself. Vicarious traumatization is a natural outcome of being in the presence of trauma, especially repeatedly. It is an occupational hazard.

Posted by linda at January 30, 2006 9:44 AM