A feminist look at a solution focused and narrative approach to treatment of child sexual assault victims and their families

Abstract

The sexual assault of a child can have devastating consequences for both the child and his or her family. It is therefore imperative that effective treatment strategies be devised and utilized in order to assist families in working through this trauma and to facilitate a process of recovery whereby the sexual assault is not interfering with their ability to live satisfactory lives. In this practicum this writer worked with five families using a combination of solution focused and narrative intervention strategies under the umbrella of a feminist perspective. This process allowed these families to focus on their strengths and abilities in overcoming the effects of the assault while also gaining an understanding of the context a sexual assault from a societal as well as individual perspective.