https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2022.583
Psychotherapeutic change in children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: a model from participants’ perspectives
Submitted: September 14, 2021
Accepted: February 14, 2022
Published: March 4, 2022
Accepted: February 14, 2022
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Introduction: Change in psychotherapy research in cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) has mainly emerged from a symptomatologic view, which needs to be complemented by a subjective perspective of change. Thus, this article aim is to describe different outcomes and stages of change during psychotherapy in children and adolescents who have been sexually abused, from the subjective perspectives of those involved in the process. Methods: A longitudinal qualitative study was developed. Qualitative interviews were conducted at different moments of the psychotherapeutic process (at around 6 months of therapy, 12 months and at the end of therapy) with 28 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17, with their caregivers and therapists. All children and adolescents attended and then completed psychotherapy due to sexual abuse in natural settings, in public specialized centres in Santiago, Chile. Sexual abuse occurred mainly in an intrafamilial context or by acquaintances. Data analysis was conducted using narrative analysis. Results: Three stages of therapy were identified: (1) settling into therapy, (2) approaching CSA and (3) healing from abuse. Three different outcomes of psychotherapeutic change were also identified: (1) protective and psychosocial changes, (2) changes related to diminishing the effects of abuse and (3) changes related to healing from abuse. Psychosocial characteristics of the cases and features of the therapeutic process are described in each group. Discussion: The outcomes of change and the stages of therapy are interrelated in a dynamic and gradual process where change is linked with the case’s psychosocial characteristics and the features of the therapeutic process. Results allowed the authors to situate the voices of the participants within a proposed model of psychotherapeutic change for CSA, with clinical practical implications.
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How to Cite
Capella, C., Rodríguez, L., Azócar, E., Lama, X., Núñez, L., Águila, D., Gomez, C., Espeleta, M., & Vasquez, V. (2022). Psychotherapeutic change in children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: a model from participants’ perspectives. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2022.583
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