Child Group
Children, siblings, and parents are all involved in treatment, not just the child. Incest impacts the whole family. Everyone needs support, understanding, and skills to handle the trauma impact. By everyone being in therapy, the child is not singled out, blamed, or stigmatized as the only one "with a problem." Each group member's treatment goals (as well as their family member's) simultaneously need to be kept in mind when planning and implementing therapy for the group.

The sexual abuse therapy groups tend to focus on helping children:

  • explore their feelings regarding their abuse,
  • discuss the various consequences of revealing they were abused,
  • realize that they are not at fault for what was done to them,
  • know how to keep themselves safe,
  • explore family relationships and the impact the abuse has had on the family,
  • learn about sexuality and appropriate touches,
  • build self-esteem,
  • enhance social skills.

The commonality of experiences shared by group members is a very powerful source of support for children. Our treatment approach is focused on group members and therapists working together in a way which allows children to express themselves and grow.