The Challenges of Working with Child Sexual Exploitation and How a Psychoanalytic Understanding Can Help

The Challenges of Working with Child Sexual Exploitation and How a Psychoanalytic Understanding Can Help
Author: Marion Bower
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2024-06-03
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1040033504

Sexual exploitation is becoming endemic in our society. It involves victims being coerced to enter abusive sexual relationships with individuals or gangs. It can occur with children from care homes – or from more privileged backgrounds. Sexual exploitation is so addictive that it is really difficult to extract the victims. This is the first book that we are aware of that examines exploitation using a psychoanalytic framework which makes the behaviour and motives of victims and, in some cases, exploiters comprehensible. The book looks at a range of situations from care homes to refugee camps and elite schools. We expect this book to become indispensable for social workers, psychotherapists, counsellors, and care workers who have to tackle child sexual exploitation. Giving up an addiction is a struggle. Our clinical examples show how much and what kinds of work are needed to start to release girls from their addiction to their exploiters. The roots of vulnerability lie in an attack on the maternal function. This is reflected in the huge expansion of day-care taking children from as little as three months old. Care for mothers and children can be transformed. We demonstrate how powerful properly organised maternal-type care can be, to give young people a sound start to their lives.

Understanding and Responding to Child Sexual Exploitation

Understanding and Responding to Child Sexual Exploitation
Author: Helen Beckett
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 138
Release: 2017-12-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1351866575

The issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE) has received intense scrutiny in recent years, following a number of high profile legal cases, serious case reviews and inquiries. This has resulted in increasing expectations that those working in the field will know how to appropriately manage and respond to this form of abuse. Of course, this is no easy task given the widely acknowledged difficulties of identifying and responding to sexual abuse and the particular complexities associated with the gain dynamic within CSE and the predominantly older age of children affected by it. This edited collection draws on the latest research evidence and academic thinking around CSE to consider issues of understanding and response. Written by researchers from ‘The International Centre: Researching child sexual exploitation, violence and trafficking’ at the University of Bedfordshire, Part I considers issues of understanding and conceptualisation. Part II considers the practical implications of some of this thinking, sharing learning from research and evaluation on prevention, identification and response. Understanding and Responding to Child Exploitation presents critical learning for academics and students, and for those working in the fields of policy, practice and commissioning. It is relevant to a wide range of disciplines including social care, youth work, education, criminology, health and social policy.

When a Child Has Been Abused

When a Child Has Been Abused
Author: Frances Thomson-Salo
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2018-09-06
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0429835663

This important and wide-ranging book explores the world of a child or young person who has been abused or neglected. It seeks to understand their world, to ease the pain from which they suffer, and to heal the wounds that the abuse has left. Examining how abuse always takes place in the context of relationships, and involves a misuse of power that causes a traumatic overwhelming of the child or adolescent, abuse also evokes strong countertransference. This affects interventions, particularly when clinicians struggle with feelings of which they may feel ashamed. A difficulty in coming to terms with and addressing child abuse relates to unconscious factors which, by freezing the emotional area surrounding the abuse (or by blinding the area of personality), makes some thoughts unthinkable. Considering traditional and novel ways of helping children who feel they have been maltreated, the book offers suggestions for individual treatment as well as describing the successful work carried out with child refugees. It also offers a glimpse into what child psychoanalysts interpret and do with children who feel a parent hates them.

Therapeutic Work with Sexually Abused Children

Therapeutic Work with Sexually Abused Children
Author: Randall Easton Wickham
Publisher: SAGE
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2002-03-08
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1446240339

`This book is a practical and supportive guide for the professionals facing this traumatic subject. [It] is easily readable′ - Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health `Therapeutic Work With Sexually Abused Children locates the practice experience of the authors within a rigorous theoretical framework and is a readable and useable guide to the complexities of helping children and adolescents who have suffered the trauma of sexual abuse′ - Youth & Policy `It is refreshing to find child therapists ready to engage with sexually abused children by incorporating trauma theory and research, addressing child protection and seeing themselves as part of a team that includes the carers. The authors provide an overview of phases of treatment, theoretical considerations and essential skills. They emphasize the importance of relationship and explore its impact on the therapist. Their approach is creative and child-centered. Case vignettes, poems and exercises promote empathy with the child′s perspective. There is a useful chapter on cultural issues and the needs of children in alternative care... this is an excellent primer for the child′s helping network′ - Community Care `This is an excellent book for workers seeking to respond more effectively to child victims of abuse′ - David Pearson, Caring Magazine Therapeutic Work with Sexually Abused Children is a creative and practical guide for professionals working directly with those who have suffered sexual abuse and for their carers. The trauma of sexual abuse experienced in childhood can be severe and enduring. Therapeutic support is offered to help both the child and the family cope with psychological or emotional difficulties both currently and in later life. Therapists must be able to respond effectively to the child victim in a sensitive and timely way which prioritizes the needs of each child. Drawing on their experience as practitioners, the authors explore the reactions which children commonly experience following abuse and examine the tasks of the therapist in responding to them. This book explores the counselling of children who have been abused rather than adult survivors of child abuse. The book will benefit from the combined experiences of one US author and one UK author.

Handbook of Social Work in Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse

Handbook of Social Work in Child and Adolescent Sexual Abuse
Author: Carolyn Hilarski
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 278
Release: 2012-01-26
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 1136864717

The enlightening collection of new approaches to understanding sexual abuse When sexual abuse occurs, helping those directly affected can be a difficult and convoluted task. The Handbook of Social Work in Child & Adolescent Sexual Abuse is a comprehensive guide that provides the latest information on assessment, management, prevention, and policy. Through insightful and accessible discussions, this collection of essays encompasses the full spectrum of child and adolescent sexual abuse to shed needed light on an affecting issue. This innovative text is the up-to-date source for unique and compassionate ways of supporting and treating survivors. The increased attention given to child sexual abuse in recent years has revealed how little we know about this tragedy. The Handbook of Social Work in Child & Adolescent Sexual Abuse is the practical compendium that covers the already existing information regarding violence against children and delves into practical methods for treating those immediately affected by it. From its historical place in society to contemporary issues of prevention that have only recently come to light, contributors examine essential details in-depth and provide concise, empirical directions for short- and long-term support. Also included is the important and newly-available assessment and treatment information focusing on ethnicity, gender, and comorbid influences as they relate to family member treatment. Among the topics discussed in the Handbook of Social Work in Child & Adolescent Sexual Abuse are: historical views of and responses to sexual abuse risk and protective factors life stage consequences theories of family dysfunction comorbidity and attachment intrafamilial abuse the non-family offender current empirical assessment methods approaches to treatment in children approaches to treatment in adolescents neurological effects of abuse treatment for the non-offending caregiver the role of the internet and other media policy and practice implications the prevalence and consequences of abuse new methods of abuse prevention and child protection the etiology of sexual offending in an attachment framework and much more! The Handbook of Social Work in Child & Adolescent Sexual Abuse is an essential resource for educators, medical practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, family therapists, and students, researchers, and academics in the field of social work.

Understanding Perpetrators, Protecting Children

Understanding Perpetrators, Protecting Children
Author: Lynda Deacon
Publisher: Whiting & Birch Limited
Total Pages: 194
Release: 1999
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 9781861770219

The development of knowledge and skills in working with perpetrators of sexual abuse over the past 15 years has been greatly aided by the establishment of specialist workers and teams. However, this has had the unintended effect of generating mystique about the nature of the work and discouraging non-specialists from engaging in it. The authors feel that this is counter-productive and must be addressed, as almost all work with perpetrators is undertaken by individuals with little support, specialist training or supervision. Only 6% of known perpetrators are treated in established specialist programmes. The underpinning theory and the key principles of practice with this group can be acquired by any professional worker. This book brings that knowledge to front-line staff to enable them to contribute effectively to the protection of children. The book sets out: . To demystify the theory of working with perpetrators of child sexual abuse. . To give practitioners the information they need to able to work effectively and safely with perpetrators. . To help practitioners acquire the skills to help perpetrators take responsibility for their actions and thus protect children. . To look at the gender issues inevitably embedded in this area of work. The book is aimed at the singleton practitioner within social work, probation, housing, community work and mental health work who is increasing faced with the need to work with sex offenders with little or no specialist support. The authors have between them over twenty years of experience in working and training in this field. In this book they have attempted to disseminate their knowledge. They have provided an accessible, readable and informative 'how to' guide. It will appeal to any front line worker who seeks practical advice to develop his or her competence in face to face work with this group. Contents: Context and theory . How Perpetrators Operate . The Grooming Process . Risk Assessment . Change, Monitoring and Containment. Professional Support . Multi-Agency Contexts . Impact on the Professional Lynda Deacon is Staff Tutor, Health and Social Welfare, Open University, with extensive experience in child protection work. Bryan Gocke is a Child Protection Manager and former Probation Officer with experience with adult and adolescent abusers.

Group Work with Sexually Abused Children

Group Work with Sexually Abused Children
Author: Lynn Grotsky
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Total Pages: 327
Release: 1999-12-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1452221154

"This is a well written and nicely organized book that can be both a helpful handbook for clinicians just starting to do group treatment for young victims of sexual abuse as well as a terrific resource for useful group treatment activities for the more experienced clinicians. It addresses important issues in the treatment of sexual abuse and offers suggestions and hints when using different activities, as well as discusses potential problems for each activity. The book is full of examples taken from actual groups and includes materials to use for both support and therapy groups for boys and girls, ages four to eighteen. As someone who has provided group treatment for many years, I found this to be a comprehensive book that successfully incorporates treatment issues for both children and their parents with great new and practical ideas for group treatment." --Kerry J. Todd, MSW Children′s Response Center, Bellevue, Washington Group work is particularly effective with child sexual assault victims because it breaks down their feelings of isolation, builds social skills, teaches appropriate boundary settings, and helps them realize they are normal. This easy-to-follow manual presents techniques for working with groups of children who have been sexually abused. It begins with an overview of the theory and literature of group therapy with children and then offers seven sections of psychosocial skill-building techniques: trust-building, self esteem, identifying and expressing feelings, healing the inner child, relationships, boundary setting, and prevention skills. It concludes with sample outlines for conducting 10-week groups and a bibliography of information on sexual assault. It is directed to mental health professionals who work with sexually abused children, school counselors and psychologists, workers in group homes, and advanced students in the mental health fields. It will also be helpful to early childhood educators and therapists working with any children, since many of the techniques can be utilized with children of divorce or in bereavement and general self esteem groups.

The Rape of Childhood

The Rape of Childhood
Author: Salman Akhtar
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
Total Pages: 170
Release: 2018-10-15
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1498587844

The Rape of Childhood: Development, Clinical, and Sociocultural Aspects of Childhood Sexual Abuse details the dark realm of childhood sexual abuse. While lived experience, memory, subjectivity, and affect cannot be classified into neat categories, this collection is divided into four core sections—epidemiology, emotional sequelae, psychoanalytic insight, and ameliorative strategies—to provide a thorough description of childhood abuse. The contributors examine the variables that increase a child’s vulnerability to maltreatment, including age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors, and outline the various emotional and behavioral consequences of childhood sexual abuse. This collection is essential reading for therapists working to help formerly abused children to learn how to love, be loved, and care about themselves.