Psychological support and therapeutic services

In addition to any immediate physical injuries, some children may experience longer-term emotional and psychological problems. Although most children will respond quickly to the care received, some will have developed long-term illnesses and health complications while others who have experienced horrific ordeals may be profoundly affected.

Living in an unpredictable world

Although children all have very different experiences of exploitation, a number of children may have witnessed murders, rape, physical attacks and torture and may have themselves experienced prolonged physical, sexual and emotional abuse and deprivation of sleep, food and light. Some children will have been living in an unpredictable and uncontrollable world experiencing fear, threats, intimidatation, manipulation and isolation. In some cases the child may have had to develop a dependency on their abuser, and their understandings of relationships and their ability to trust are likely to be damaged or confused.

The child may have experienced many losses during this time, losses of friends, family members and the loss of childhood and opportunities to play and learn.

Responses

Children who have experienced sexual violence may suffer from depression, anxiety, sleeping difficulties, flashbacks and nightmares, low self-esteem, sexualised behaviour, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts and substance misuse. Although many children can go on with their lives and function effectively, others will require specialist support. However, in most cases the demand for therapeutic services far outstrips the supply. For those children living in rural areas or who have additional needs such as learning difficulties or disabilities, access to suitable service provision is even more limited.

Types of support

Some but not all children who have been exploited may benefit from different therapeutic treatments delivered individually, in a group or with the family. The nature of provision may include counselling, play therapy, narrative therapy, art therapy, music therapy, nature therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), psychotherapy, anger managment or conflict resolution work.

It is also equally important to focus on the child's resilience, strengths and skills and develop opportunities to build on these foundations and acknowledge these positive aspects.

Therapeutic interventions need to be grounded in safe and trusted relationships and must be based on the child's developmental age, be culturally relevant, flexible, appropriate and carried out by a trained professional.

Key texts:

Also see texts on the health and spiritual, cultural and religious connections pages

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