Sexual Abuse Counseling Services

Serving Orlando, Winter Park, Clermont and East Orlando Florida for Sexual Abuse Therapy

What is Sexual Abuse?

Childhood sexual abuse has only become a societal issue in the past several decades.  Consequently there is a lack of research, much of which began in the 1980’s.  Finkelhor and Brown (1986) defined sexual abuse as any sexual activity involving a child under eighteen in which the other person is five or more years older than the child and in which any implicit or explicit coercion is used. Because of this power differential, older adolescents or adults are able to lure younger children into a sexual relationship which they do not have the maturity to give consent. Sexual abuse itself can be any number of intrusiveness behaviors ranging from pornography to exhibitionism to penetration (Wickham and West, 2002).

About 20% of females and 10% of males will experience childhood sexual abuse. There is no set of symptoms with predictable symptoms for abuse. Abuse is not a just a traumatic event that happens sometime in the child’s life. It is enmeshed in the fabric of a dysfunctional family of origin and entwined in the conditioning process that occurred before and following abuse (Finkelhor, 1990). The combination of the already distorted family relationships, the event itself, and the condition contributes to the child’s maladaptive functioning.  Abuse twists the child’s cognitive and affective capacities (Finklhor, 1990) and thus colors the way he or she views life.

What are the symptoms or behaviors as a result of Sexual Abuse?

Although there are no specific set of symptoms victims of childhood sexual abuse exhibit, there are many short-term and long-term effects associated with it.

Short-term Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

School Functioning

• Truancy
• Dropping out of school

Emotional and Cognitive Effects

• Depression
• Phobias
• Anxiety
• Shame and Guilt
• Self-injurious behavior
• Suicide ideation

Social and Interpersonal Functioning

• Aggression
• Antisocial behavior
• Running away from home

Physical and Sexual Functioning

• Physical complaints, such as stomachaches and headaches
• Prostitution
• Sexual Identity Issues

Compulsive and Addictive Behaviors

• Substance Abuse
• Eating Disorders
• Self-Destructive Behavior

Long-Term Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Emotional and Cognitive Effects

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Shame and Guilt
• Low Self-Esteem
• Distorted Self-Perception

Social and Interpersonal Functioning

• Interpersonal Difficulties
• Revictimization

Physical and Sexual Functioning

• Sexual Difficulties
• Physical Problems such as headaches

Compulsive and Addictive Behaviors

• Substance Abuse
• Eating Disorders
• Self-Destructive Behaviors
  

Janie Lacy, Sandi Burchfield, MS, Debbie Haughton, MS and Anthony Gutierrez specialize in facilitating the healing process with her counseling with victims of sexual abuse in Orlando, Winter Park, East Orlando, Metro West and the Central Florida area.

Call Us Today at 407-248-0030

For a COMPLIMENTARY 15-minute phone consultation!

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References

Finkelhor, D. Early and long-term effects of child sexual abuse: An update. Professional Psychology:  Research and Practice, 21,  325-330.

Finkelhor, D., & Brown, A. (1986). Impact of child sexual abuse:  A review of the research. Psychological Bulletin, 99,66-77.

Wickham, R., & West, J. (2002).  Therapeutic Work with Sexually Abused Children.

Sage Publications.

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Office Locations and Areas Served

Total Life Counseling Center provides counseling, therapy, coaching, camps and career services for all of central Florida, including: Orlando, Winter Park, Maitland, College Park, Dr. Phillips, Pine Castle, Conway, Windermere, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oviedo, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Sanford, Deland, De Bary, Deltona, Daytona, New Smyrna, Cocoa, Titusville, Merritt Island, Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Celebration, Mt. Dora, the Villages and the tri-cities of Tavares, Eustis and Leesburg.

Our counseling, therapy, camps, group, coaching and career services are conveniently located at:

1507 S. Hiawassee Road, Suite 101, Orlando, FL 32835

Lee World-1850 Lee Road Ste. #215, Winter Park, FL 32789

1850 N. Alafaya Trail Building 1-A Orlando, FL 32826 Suite 1A

7432 State Road 50, Groveland, FL 34736

Call us (407) 248-0030

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