The Bravehearts Toolbox for Practitioners Working with Child Sexual Assault
Dr Nadine McKillop, Carol Ronken, Sam Vidler
Bravehearts Inc.Praise for The Bravehearts Toolbox
This how-to book facilitates education, empowerment, and protection by clinicians who will integrate all the practical information and activities into their repertoire to increase therapeutic outcomes. I heartily endorse this publication as a critical resource for anyone working with children or adolescents. — Dr John Barletta, Clinical Psychologist.
Written in a clear and concise manner leaving the reader in no doubt regarding the insidious nature of this crime and the impact upon the victim. Thoughtfully constructed and clearly sensitive to the needs of victims, it presents a set of tools that will enable the practitioner to more confidently address issues surrounding child sexual assault, and has the capacity to serve as a valuable resource for all those who work in the area. — Dr Lynne M. Baker , University of Queensland
Clearly laid out with good background information on myths, facts and statistics, this book is an excellent guide on dealing with such problems with practical, therapy-based activities with clear directions to follow. Frequented by preferential phrases to use and which to avoid, all of which can help improve the consultation, as well as important reminders of how a simple phrase or question can impact any legal investigation. Highly recommended to any therapist who works with children: not just those who specifically work with known child sexual assault. — Dr Dylan Wilson, Paediatrician.
A must have for mental health practitioners, teachers, school counsellors, medical practitioners, allied health practitioners and for those who are uncertain about their ability to respond effectively and take action accordingly when someone discloses child sexual assault. Beautifully put together and easy to read. — Jan Bond, Clinical Counsellor
This book increases the reader’s confidence in their ability to respond to and treat clients who have experienced child sexual assault by providing information and skills based on the authors’ obvious expertise in the area. It is essential reading for those just starting out in the field, but is equally as useful to the more experienced clinician looking to reinforce and extend on their existing therapeutic skills. — Shelli Hastings, Clinical Psychologist
About the Author
Psychologist Dr Nadine McKillop has extensive experience counselling both victims and offenders in Australia and abroad. Nadine's qualifications include a BA(Criminology and Criminal Justice), Bachelor of Behavioural Science and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). For the past decade her practice has focused predominantly on child sexual assault. Nadine worked for Bravehearts as a psychologist until January 2010. Dedicated to continued research in this area, Nadine is a currently completing a Doctorate of Philosophy examining developmental and situational risk factors associated with the onset of child sexual assault, with a focus on informing primary prevention initiatives.Carol Ronken worked as a researcher and Associate Lecturer at Griffith University in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice before joining Bravehearts in early 2003. With a BA(Psych) and Masters in Social Research, Carol is the Research Manager for Bravehearts and is passionate about ensuring the organisation's active involvement in research, policy and legislative development that aims to prevent, respond to, and ultimately reduce the incidence of child sexual assault in the community.
Sam Vidler is a qualified counsellor who has been supporting children and families affected by sexual assault for several years. Sam's qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma in Counselling. She is currently undertaking a postgraduate degree in psychology. In addition to working therapeutically with children, young people and parents, Sam was employed as the as Bravehearts' Therapeutic Services Manager until November 2010.
Bravehearts Inc. is a national, registered charity whose members believe that the provision of effective support and care to children who have been sexually assaulted and their non-offending families, together with effective prevention, early intervention and increased community awareness will provide a fundamental cornerstone necessary to a healthy society.
Reviews
The Bravehearts Toolbox for practitioners working with child sexual assault
Review by Lynne M. Baker PhD, University of Queensland
Innocence stolen – and in its place the harsh, discordant feelings of violation and shame. I cannot begin to imagine what it must be like for a child to suffer as a result of sexual assault being perpetrated against him/her, often by someone he/she knows and trusts. I have, however, been privy to some of the issues faced by the now adult child of a close friend who, at a very young age, was sexually assaulted by a family member. The impact of those events carried long into the future for all those involved: the devastation and guilt felt by the mother at not being able to protect her child; the continual bouts of depression for the victim, and also the mother as she sees her child, many years later, still struggling with the ongoing effects of sexual assault. While the effects of child sexual assault can vary considerably, from mild to severe, across a range of psychological and behavioural issues, and professional assistance does undoubtedly assist the victim, there can be no question regarding the depth of the impact of sexual assault on children.
The Bravehearts Toolbox presents an excellent means through which practitioners are able to enhance their knowledge and skills to assist victims of child sexual assault and their families. It is written in a clear and concise manner which enables the reader to develop a distinct image of the nature of child sexual assault, leaving him/her in no doubt regarding the insidious nature of this crime and the impact upon the victim.
This book is, at times, confronting – offering statistics regarding the percentage of sex offenders who are actually convicted, the number of sexual assaults occurring each year and the percentage of reported cases that actually result in gaol time for the offender. Its precise descriptions of the varying forms of abuse lay the foundations for the information that follows regarding the most appropriate ways in which a therapist is able to respond to situations involving a child’s disclosure of sexual assault, mandatory reporting, and assisting parents to privately express their own feelings of anger and distress in a controlled environment, thereby freeing them to direct their primary focus toward supporting their child in a loving and caring way.
A particularly helpful section of this publication (Chapter 4) offers a range of effective approaches through which the therapist may choose to engage the child-client and address the presenting problem. Throughout this chapter comprehensive instructions are provided for each activity including the materials required, explanations for the child, step-by-step directions for the activity, together with information that should be detailed for the parent or carer. Specific activities are suggested for children who are experiencing difficulties regarding anger, fear, boundaries, avoidance, negative thoughts, and self-esteem.
Careful consideration is given to the potential for the therapist to experience vicarious trauma, a response which the authors describe as "normal” (p. 112) for the therapist who consistently engages in work of this nature. Attention is drawn to a number of symptoms that can be indicative of vicarious trauma, and the manner in which this can impact upon both the individual therapist and also the organisation. Suggestions are offered regarding some effective ways for individuals and organisations to minimise vicarious trauma, thereby ensuring a higher level of ongoing support for staff members. Finally, a self-care assessment guide encourages each individual to reflect upon his/her own personal situation, and highlights the need for a strong commitment on the part of the therapist, to a significant level of self-care that encompasses the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual and professional aspects of one’s life.
While the subject itself is in no way pleasant, this publication is thoughtfully constructed and clearly sensitive to the needs of victims. It presents a set of tools that will enable the practitioner to more confidently and more successfully address issues surrounding child sexual assault, and has the capacity to serve as a valuable resource for all those who work in the area of child sexual assault, in addition to those who wish to gain a deeper insight and more accurate understanding of the issues surrounding this form of abuse.
The Bravehearts Toolbox for Practitioners Working with Child Sexual Assault
Review by Dr Dylan Wilson, Paediatrician.
It is a sad reflection of the world we live in that Bravehearts, the charity that deals exclusively with the issue of child sexual assault, cannot deal with the demand for its services. This book is aimed at all practitioners who work with children to give them the confidence to proceed with therapies that are tried and tested. The reasons are not only to relieve the burden from Bravehearts; it is often more beneficial for a child to continue to work with a practitioner with whom they have a therapeutic relationship. For understandable reasons, these practitioners can often feel overwhelmed with how to deal with the disclosure of child sexual assault. This book aims to help with that and provide a framework in which to work.
The book is clearly laid out with good background information initially of myths, facts and statistics. It then proceeds with how to deal with disclosure and common presenting problems (many of which lead to consultation with a paediatrician). The book then becomes an excellent guide on dealing with such problems with practical, therapy-based activities with clear directions to follow. The book is also frequented by preferential phrases to use and which to avoid, all of which can help improve the consultation, as well as important reminders of how a simple phrase or question can impact any legal investigation. Each chapter ends with the chance to reflect with a question-based summary. Finally the book finishes by recognises the importance of the effect such consultations can have on the therapist, how to recognise vicarious trauma and how minimise its effects.
This book is highly recommended to any therapist who works with children: not just those who specifically work with known child sexual assault.
The
Bravehearts Toolbox for Practitioners Working with Child Sexual
Assault
Review by Kelly Allen, published in The
Australian Educational and Developmental Psychologist
‘Saviour! I’ve no one else
to tell — And so I trouble thee’, Emily Elizabeth Dickinson (1830–1886). Often
children who have experienced sexual assault wish only to disclose to the
individual with whom they have formed a therapeutic bond. For many practi-
tioners, however, disclosure results in referral. Reasons can include
uncertainty about legal obligations, or self-doubt regarding one’s professional
competence to manage and therapeutically treat the disclosure. The authors of The
Bravehearts Toolbox for Practitioners Working with Child Sexual Assault tackle
these issues and provide thera- peutic tools for practitioners who have
received a disclosure. Bravehearts recommends that it is preferable for
practitioners who have received a sexual assault disclosure to continue working
with the young person, particularly if a therapeutic relationship has already
been formed. This book aims to equip practitioners with the knowledge, skills,
and techniques needed to professionally, ethically, and legally manage the
disclosure of sexual assault.
This is a process-orientated
and skills-based resource for practitioners working with child sexual assault.
The book guides practitioners towards understanding the indicators, presenting
behaviours and long and short-term outcomes for children who have experienced
sexual assault. It provides a voice to the often silent and isolating
experiences of these children.
McKillop, Ronken, and Vidler
have thoughtfully outlined appropriate responses for practitioners, from
reporting sexual assault to detailing therapeutic processes and activities for
specific age groups between the ages of 5–14 years and over. The activities aim
to assist practitioners to work with anger, avoidance, self-blame and sleep
issues, and to teach personal safety, self-esteem, positive self-talk and
appropriate boundaries. A psycho-educational component identifies healthy and
unhealthy sexual behaviours and provides a holistic response to sexual assault.
The text equips practitioners with a guide to not only assist young people, but
also to work alongside others who will accompany the young person through his
or her sexual assault journey. These people include parents and caregivers, who
provide important support for young people and ensure their future safety.
The final chapter is dedicated to the ‘toll on the therapist’ and serves as an important reminder of self-care. Funding and resource deficits, as well as the difficulties of working with vulnerable children, mean that practitioners can become ‘emotionally overwhelmed and exhausted’ (p. 113). A ‘self-care assessment’ is provided by the authors, who acknowledge this important facet of working with this particular client population.
Table of Contents
About Bravehearts
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
How to Use This Book
Definitions
Chapter 1 — The Nature of Child Sexual
Assault
Chapter 2 — Dealing with Disclosures
Chapter 3 — The Therapeutic Process:
Common Presenting Problems
Chapter 4 — The Therapeutic Process:
Effective Approaches to Presenting Problems
Chapter 5 — Psycho-Educational
Tools: Teaching Personal Safety
Chapter 6 — The Toll on the
Therapist
References
Self-Evaluation Tool
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