Abstract

HABIGZANG, Luísa Fernanda  and  KOLLER, Silvia Helena. Evaluation of the therapeutic process in cases of sexual abuse. rev.latinoam.psicol. [online]. 2013, vol.45, n.2, pp.201-210. ISSN 0120-0534.

Sexual abuse can trigger cognitive and behavioral problems which require psychotherapeutic intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic process of two clinical cases. Participants were two sexually abused girls who participated in cognitive behavioral group therapy. The cases were selected based on the different responses to group therapy. One of them showed a reduction in the symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress while in other these same symptoms were not reduced. Results showed that factors influencing the therapeutic process and that were related to the different responses to group therapy included the onset age of sexual abuse; the form of abuse; the perception of the experience in the care institution; criminalization of the offender; and persistence of guilt when faced with stress inoculation techniques. Case studies can contribute to the understanding of individual responses to effective intervention models based on evidence.

Keywords : Sexual Abuse; Child Abuse; Childhood; Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.

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