Reflection A sexual assault victim needs many attributes and skills from a counselor at the emergency room or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) facility as well as long-term treatment after the initial trauma has occurred. A counselor must show support for the client at all times and be educated/trained on the medical process associated with the medical procedures necessary for evidence collection. The victim may demonstrate many feelings, not only immediately after the assault, but in the months ahead. Two approaches that are beneficial are TF-CBT and Anxiety Management Training. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) uses the acronym” PRACTICE” when working with survivors of sexual assault. The “P” stands for psychoeducation, which means educating the survivor of potential feelings …show more content…
They could experience fear, anxiety, sleeping difficulties, irritability, numbness, anger, guilt/shame, and depression (Lee & Jordan, 2014). The “R” stands for relaxation and relaxation skills. This requires teaching the victim the skills to relax when they feel stress from the assault. This could be deep breathing exercises or muscle relaxation (Lee & Jordan, 2014). The “A” stands for affective expression/modulation. This is teaching the victim to expand their vocabulary, express, and manage the feelings that are associated with the assault. The “C” stands for cognitive coping and processing (Lee & Jordan, 2014). This is learning cognitive coping skills and self-efficacy. The “T” stands for trauma narration (Lee & Jordan, 2014). This requires the victim to be able to write down or narrate the sexual assault with how they felt and what they were feeling. The “I” stands for in vivo mastery of trauma (Lee & Jordan, 2014). This would be used for any ongoing avoidance of reminders
Obviously, working with survivors of child sexual abuse, neglect, and trauma: The approach taken by the social worker in the Brandon’s case shall begin with “assessment and beginning treatment of the family because child abuse is one of a wide range practice situation in which systems concepts can be applied to help to understand the dynamics involved” in the road for healing and recovery from the physical and psychological effect of the trauma by providing adequate resources available for counseling and therapy due to the devastating impacts of child sexual abuse can be heartbreaking for the victim and the family. However, social worker approach to understanding and responds efficiently by being empathetic to the complex situation as a result; the perpetrator is the father such as in the case of Brandon (Plummer, Makris, & Brocksen, 2014).
Reviewing the 12 Core Concepts of the National Child Trauma Stress Network, James is suffering from three of the 12 concepts. Number 1 core concept, Traumatic experience are inherently complex. Traumatic experiences are inherently complex no experience are the same varying degrees of objective life threat, physical violation, witnessing of an injury or death. The victim perceives their surroundings and decides what is best for them now safety and self-protection. Number 4 core concept, A child or adolescent can exhibit an extensive range of reactions to suffering and loss. Number 9 core concept, the developmental neurobiology triggers a youth’s reactions to traumatic experience. In this paper, we will be covering another trauma that affects the social worker or case worker who works on these cases of
In a study done by The Journal of Clinical Psychology, “the primary reason for not reporting seemed to combine a type of guilt with embarrassment.” With the help of utilizing support groups, clubs, and other programs among college campuses that are designed to make the victim’s experience a little easier, the victims may not feel as embarrassed to come out and may feel safer in their decision to move forward with their case. One of the most notable effects of rape is the psychological impact that it has on the victim immediately as well as long-term. Many victims feel depression, anxiety, and other sudden onset mental illnesses as a result of their attack and can last for years post-attack. The Journal of Interpersonal Violence reported that in their study of 95 victims over a 12 week long period, “by 3 months post-crime 47% still met the full criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” This prolonged experience of emotional trauma can weaken the person’s overall mental wellbeing and cause the trauma to stick with them for the rest of their lives, especially if there are no support resources around them. As cited in the Journal of Clinical Psychology study previously, the number one reason for not reporting is the feeling of embarrassment which causes the victims to not talk about their experience and to shut out those around
Before Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), several doctors depended on Behavior Therapy (BT) to treat clients of different populations with different disorders such as anxiety, depression, Posttraumatic Stress (PTSD), and numerous others (Corey, 2012, p. 247). Put that together with Albert Bandera’s social learning theory and CBT is born. CBT is but one facet of BT, but it remains one of the more conventional methods with psychologists today. The chief goal of CBT is to aid the client recognize that what they believe influences their behavior (Corey, 2012, 249).
Rape Trauma Syndrome (n.d.). In Giving Support. Aiding Recovery. Seeking Justice. . Retrieved April 8, 2014
According to the authors of “Enhancing Care and Advocacy for Sexual Assault Survivors on Canadian Campuses”, “Sexual assault has immediate and long-term health consequences for victims including suicide, HIV infection, depression, and social isolation,” (Quinlan, Clarke, and Miller). Another common side effect these victims face is post-traumatic stress disorder. Someone experiencing PTSD may have random outburst of anger, have trouble concentrating on day to day tasks, or may even have flashbacks of their attack. These consequences make it hard for victims to get back into the normal routine of everyday life (“Effects of Sexual Assault”). In a case at Amherst College a young women named Angie Epifano faced many of these consequences after she was raped by an acquaintance in one of the college’s dormitories. While immediately choosing to ignore what had happened to her Epifano soon became an emotional wreck. Before the attack Epifano had believed herself to be an extremely strong and independent individual. In an article done on Epifano’s story she stated “Everything I had believed myself to be was gone in 30 minutes,” (Epifano). Sexual assault takes away a piece of someone. With their hopes and dreams clouded by the tragedy they have endured, victims face a lifetime of
The weight of constantly listening to difficult, harrowing, and upsetting events in other people’s lives can have negative impacts on therapists, especially for those who are inadequately trained or who have poor coping mechanisms. While most therapists deal with this strain, it is particularly true of those who work consistently work with patients who have experienced trauma. Trauma refers to an individual's exposure to actual or threatened harm, fear of death or injury, or witnessing violence. Common forms of trauma seen in therapy environments are rape, abuse, victims of crimes, accidents, and disasters. Trauma work requires specialized training and support in order to be effective for the clients and to help to deal with, minimize, and
Wolff and Shi conclude, “Traumatic abuse that occurred when the victim was a child or
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) is a form of CBT, which focuses on processing the trauma the patient has experienced. Drs. Judith Cohen, Esther Deblinger, and Anthony Mannarino developed TFCBT in the late 1980’s (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adults, 2014). TFCBT uses principles adapted from cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure techniques in order to address symptoms related to trauma as well as symptoms of depression, behavior problems, and difficulties with caregivers. Behavior modeling and body safety skills training may also be integrated into TFCBT (Ramirez de Arellano et al., 2014).
Sexual assault is horrific happens far too often, and it something that should never happen. Sexual assault is grave sin against a woman; one that saddens and angers her Creator. The psychological effects associated with the assault such as shame, guilt, depression and anxiety can haunt the victim for many years after the assault. While there are many effective medical and psychological treatments that can greatly benefit a woman who has been sexually assaulted; none of them can take the place of the redemptive healing that comes from God.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is one of the most commonly utilized interventions for children (Cary & McMillen, 2011). TF-CBT is a highly structured intervention consisting of 90-minute weekly sessions. The clinician works with the client through eight competencies, including psychoeducation, relaxation, affective expression and regulation, cognitive coping, trauma narrative development and processing, gradual exposure, joint parent/child sessions, and enhancing future development (Cary & McMillen, 2011). TF-CBT has an extensive history and many variations. Clinicians utilize a number of other cognitive behavior treatments that have been adapted to meet the needs of traumatized children (Cary, & McMillen, 2012; Smith et al., 2007). While there are a number of cognitive behavior treatments, TF-CBT has received the highest classification rating for supported and effective treatment from many studies (Cary, & McMillen, 2012; Kauffman Best Practices Project, 2004).
Some of these effects include, however are not limited to: shock, denial, depression, attempted or completed suicide, alienation, fear, anxiety, and guilt (CDC). With the weight of all of these emotions, it’s not surprising to think that someone would become so distraught. Having had the opportunity to interview a rape victim, whom will be called Jane, it has become apparent that rape can be paralyzing. The interviewee has gone on to attend therapy sessions, as well as distrusting any person who comes into her life. In addition, Jane went as far as to explain what it felt like to experience such
Sexual assault is a traumatic event that can cause extreme psychological effects on the victim. These effects can be short-term, and they can manifest themselves into long-term effects, depending on the individual and how the sexual assault occurred. Victims of sexual assault can be either male or female, with both sexes having fairly similar psychological effects. In addition to these psychological effects, some individuals develop Rape Trauma Syndrome or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can be more easily classified as short-term versus long-term responses. Every individual is different and may differ in their reactions to this event; there is no normal or common way to react (Kaminker, 1998, pg. 23).
Sexual assault is an offense that plagues many U.S. citizens. Although some studies show that rape is on the decline, other studies report that the phenomena actually occuring is that less rape victims are reporting the crime. In fact, approximately 68% of sexual assaults go unreported to the police according to the U.S. Department of Justice in a National Crime Victimization Survey from 2008-2012. It is common knowledge that rape victims are usually severely traumatized after the event, which leaves them susceptible to various emotions such as shame, anxiety, numbness, fear, denial, and guilt. Because of this, many rape victims decide to repress their experience and let it go unheard. However, not only does this prevent them from healing emotionally,
[9] Sgroi, Suzanne M. Handbook of Clinical intervention in Child Sexual Abuse. Lexington Books, Toronto, 1982. 9.