Trauma and Abuse Counselling Essay Example

appropriate responses examined. Hannah and her sisters all experienced sexual and emotional abuse, and while Hannah hopes to eventually forgive her father, her story is connected to other family members. This situation may present ethical dilemmas and difficulties. Child Sexual Abuse inflicts a profound sense of powerlessness, stripping individuals of their autonomy.

When children are under the supervision of adults, a power imbalance is inevitable. However, when an adult engages in sexual abuse towards a child, it inflicts profound and enduring harm. The child inherently recognizes that something is amiss and yearns for a "typical" family environment. Frequently, they expend considerable emotional energy trying to navigate the dysfunction within their family unit. Over time, this feeling of helplessness evolves into feelings of frustration, hopelessness, and a diminished sense of personal value, discernment, and competency.

Over time, a deep sense of doubt and self-hatred emerges, making it challenging to appreciate oneself or receive acknowledgement from others (Allender 1995, pp. 119-126). The individual rejects both their own worth and acceptance from others while desperately longing for that acceptance (Allender 1995, pp. 119-126). The impact of betrayal is devastating, often leading to hypervigilance, suspicion, distortion, and denial (Allender 1995, pp. 134-135). Hannah has personally experienced the ultimate betrayal from her father who held a position of trust within the church community.

Allender (1995, p. 132) suggests that it may be difficult to comprehend how someone can be respected in the church during the day and be an abuser at night, making such situations even more possible. The violation of the parent/child relationship in Hannah's case led to feelings of shame and self-blame. Betrayal was further intensified by the

lack of nurture and protection from her mother, who may have either chosen neglect or denial. Allender (1995, p. 133) asserts that a parent's betrayal of a child does not require knowledge or suspicion of sexual abuse.

The church elders and school nurse have betrayed Hannah by purposefully avoiding or ignoring her pleas for assistance. According to Allender (1995, p. 91), child sexual abuse results in feelings of shame, self-hatred, and denial. As a result, the victim experiences deep emotional pain and requires empathy and understanding. To provide this support, the listener must comprehend the profound impact of this type of abuse on the victim's perspective (pp. 91-92). Therefore, as Hannah's counselor, I must actively listen and stay well-informed through reading, research, and supervision.

Counselling Adult Survivors of CSA Traumatized individuals are those who are actively seeking recovery, regardless of the outcome (Briere 2006, p. 68). Wright emphasizes that trauma is a brain injury that disrupts normal life adaptations and leads to PTSD. It is not simply an emotional response to troubling events, but rather a prolonged disturbance in body and brain chemistry that can last for many years (PP. 200-201).

He further emphasizes that if trauma occurs to a child, it can have a permanent impact on their brain and its functions (p. 201). Though it remains unclear whether this applies to Hannah, a 50-year-old woman who has been functioning in society for many years since the abuse occurred. As a therapist, one aspect of my role is to reframe Hannah's traumatic experience as a challenge, viewing the pain she endures as an opportunity for awareness and growth. Additionally, I aim to instill hope

for the future by helping her identify possibilities beyond her current circumstances.

It is commonly acknowledged that adversity and distress can lead to personal growth and increased resilience, creative coping strategies, development of strengths, and problem-solving opportunities for individuals. According to Briere (2006, p. 69), individuals who experience psychological pain and disability due to trauma are striving to come to terms with their past and, potentially, surpass it. It is evident that Hannah possesses remarkable strengths and abilities that have propelled her thus far. However, she requires assistance to learn how to value and appreciate herself beyond others' perspectives or judgments.

As a counselor, it is important for me to respect and trust Hannah. It is necessary to acknowledge Satler's claim that the survivor cannot heal without emotional visibility. Reality is a shared experience and another person must validate the client's perception of themselves for it to be accepted. Sanderson (2006, p.82) states that adult survivors of CSA should be believed as they were often not believed during their childhood. Clinicians need to believe and validate the survivor's experiences in order to effectively engage them in therapy.

If the survivor lacks belief or validation, she will withdraw and feel betrayed, as has happened in the past when others did not believe her. It is important for counselors to view the therapeutic process as an exploration of the survivor's personal truth, rather than a court-like process focused on historical truth (2006, p. 82). It is believed that a person's self-confidence and ability to accept or come to terms with past events will be most beneficial for her to progress (Sanderson 2006, p. 81).

Hannah needs

help in facing the truth and developing self-confidence, intuition, and belief in herself. She also requires guidance in dealing with the emotional consequences of her abusive upbringing and how it has impacted her adult life, relationships, and her own children. As stated by Sanderson (2006, p. 00), counselors should possess a thorough grasp of the lasting effects of CSA while recognizing the individuality and specific experiences of each survivor.

Some common issues that require attention include the validation of experience, trust, safety, and abandonment concerns. These concerns may involve a lack of trust in oneself, others, the world, and one's own perceptions. Additionally, individuals may struggle with maintaining healthy boundaries and may experience fear or difficulty with closeness, intimacy, connection, attachment, and relationships. Other challenges may include fragmented absent memories, a shattered sense of self and low self-esteem, shame, difficulties with affect modulation and regulation (expressing and tolerating a range of feelings), power and control issues, denial of needs, loss and grieving, sensuality and sexuality issues, maladaptive coping strategies, as well as the need for reconnection to oneself, others, and the world (Sanderson 2006, p. 100).

According to Briere (2006, pp. 75-76), clients vary greatly in terms of their issues, symptoms, and their ability to customize therapy to their stated needs and goals. Briere (2002, p. 24) further argues that clients are already making efforts to recover and function optimally, so therapy must involve a balance of challenge and support, as well as growth and safety. He suggests that therapists should be mindful of what we ask of our clients, as they bring immense courage and strength to therapy. Therefore, the client can be considered

heroic, as identified by Duncan.

Miller and Sparks conducted groundbreaking research emphasizing the importance of the therapeutic alliance for successful therapy. They suggest that therapists concentrate on establishing a relational connection with clients and reaching an agreement on goals and tasks (Hubble, M., Duncan, B., ; Miller, S. 1999). Hannah has expressed her desire to forgive her father but struggles with conflicting loyalties towards her childhood family and adult children, who hold her responsible for their childhood hardships.

Undoubtedly, they still face challenges due to the mistreatment inflicted on their mother. Unless they can confront and forgive their mother and her family of origin, these difficulties may persist for all of them. Hannah has a desire to forgive her father, but this raises some inquiries. Does Hannah require her father's remorse to grant forgiveness? How does her children's accusations and culpability impact her? What are the evident and concealed strengths, resources, resiliencies, and capabilities that Hannah has utilized thus far?