Self reported experiences of therapy following child sexual abuse: Messages from a retrospective survey of adult survivors

Abstract

• Summary:

This article explores retrospective accounts of childhood sexual abuse survivors’ experiences of therapeutic support received before the age of 18 in the United Kingdom. The survey formed part of a broad programme of research on therapeutic interventions for children affected by sexual abuse, by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) under the Rebuilding Childhoods programme. The primary aim of the survey was to explore what was helpful in young survivors’ experiences (n= 299) of therapy to inform the development of a new NSPCC service. Of these 299 respondents (aged 18–35), only 52 reported receiving formal therapeutic provision following the abuse and this article relates to this smaller subset.

• Findings:

Respondents revealed that therapeutic factors such as therapist characteristics and interpersonal communication were crucial in informing their perceptions of therapy received. However, pre-therapy factors such as high level of need and unstable personal circumstances at the time of accessing support also influenced respondent ability to engage in the therapeutic process. Although the types of therapy accessed differed for respondents, there were common elements reported relating to therapist characteristics and skills which were important in determining respondent views.

• Applications:

The findings suggest that while there is no one-size-fits all approach, there are key characteristics of the relationship between child and therapist that must be considered and that assessment and on-going professional judgement is key to engaging children and maximising their therapeutic experiences. The findings also suggest the importance of listening to children’s preferences and keeping children informed.