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!
BLOGS:
"Defining Childhood
Sexual Abuse"
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Please see blogs for topics of signs of sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, sexual abuse statistics, sexual abuse victims, sexual abuse treatment and more.
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
Email Us
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