Clinical social work and child sexual abuse

Children and adolescents who experience traumatic life events may develop a wide variety of problems including symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and substance use. This report will focus on assessment and treatment of children and youth with PTSD symptoms and a history of sexual abuse. An examination of the impact of sexual abuse on children will be described. A critical analysis of psychotherapy with children and youth who have been sexually abused will be explored. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) will be examined as a therapeutic approach that targets PTSD symptom reduction. This intervention is provided in a community setting. The Sexual Abuse Intervention Program provides services to child victims of sexual abuse that are 18 years of age or younger. In reviewing the literature, sexualized behaviours are the most commonly studied and characteristic symptom of sexual abuse. The following will explore children with sexual behaviours problems. --Leaf ii.