RESPONSES GENERATED FROM FEMALE SURVIVORS DURING SEXUAL ABUSE GROUP THERAPY

• Force
• Intimidation
• The abuser gave me no choice
• Isolation
• Bribes
• Educating me about life and sex
• Threat of losing something valuable to me if I don’t submit
• Psychological pressure
• Physical force
• Manipulation
• Attacking my self esteem
• Threats of violence or death
• Giving me drugs or alcohol
• The abuser telling me that I don’t have a right to say no

Some other critical areas to be explored when counselling clients who have experienced childhood sexual abuse:

1. Must you be FORCED? Force is not a prerequisite for sexual abuse to occur (particularly in incestuous sexual abuse where there is often NO FORCE).

2. There should be discussion on spoken and UNSPOKEN threats.

3. How often must an act occur for it be considered sexual abuse?

4. Sexual abuse does not only involve penetration, fondling and voyeurism also constitute sexual abuse.