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Childhood Sexual Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Considerations for Rehabilitation Counsellors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2015

Kylie Dearn  and
Lynda R. Matthews
Kylie Dearn*
Affiliation:
CRS, Australia
Lynda R. Matthews
Affiliation:
The University of Sydney
*
CRS Australia, Suite 1, 77 Albert Avenue, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia
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Abstract

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a frequently occurring event that has a strong and lasting impact on adult functioning. A significant percentage of adults who are sexually abused as children subsequently meet the diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and demonstrate an increased vulnerability toward further traumatisation. Despite the likelihood that rehabilitation counsellors will encounter clients with this history, published literature on the contribution of rehabilitation counsellors to work with adults who were abused as children is limited. This report discusses ways rehabilitation counsellors can contribute to the inter-professional collaboration required to achieve a reduction in impact of disability and handicap associated with the long-term impact of CSA.

Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , 1998 , pp. 71 - 81
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1998

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