POPULATION:
Serves females age 8 to 12
ADMISSION CRITERIA:
-
Must
possess borderline to average intelligence,
-
Must have been sexually abused as a child,
-
Must possess average or slightly below average social skills,
-
Must
not posses any serious disorders of thought or delusional thinking,
-
Must be willing to participate in a group therapy
context with other females in their age group.
TREATMENT PLAN GOALS
SPECIFIC TO GROUP:
-
Identify
and Express feelings Related to sexual abuse.
-
Develop
and Implement Coping Skills for dealing with feelings, thoughts and
behaviors
-
Develop
healthy sexual identity including understanding of healthy sexual
functioning and behavior.
-
Establish
and use an appropriate support system.
-
Improve
sense of self worth.
MODEL OF TREATMENT:
Cognitive behavioral, Insight Therapy, and
Psycho-education are the primary models of treatment used. Techniques may be
drawn from other disciplines to fit the needs of the group.
PERFORMANCE/DISCHARGE
CRITERIA:
1.)
Identify and Express feelings Related to sexual abuse.
Group members should be able to
cathartically deal with issues of sexual abuse. This doesn’t necessarily mean
that each group member must tell her story of abuse but they must be able to
express their feelings appropriately and begin the healing process. The results
should be the ability to deal with the incident(s) of abuse without
dysfunctional patterns of emotional expression and a decrease in the following
symptoms as applicable.
a. Conduct Disturbance
Physical aggression
Verbal aggression
Inappropriate verbal
confrontation of parents and authority figures
Noncompliance
Alcohol abuse
Drug abuse
Running away from home
Degradation of school performance
b. Depressive Symptoms
Lowered affect
Blunted affect
Dysfunctional
affect regulation/modulation
Suicidal
ideation
Suicide
attempts
Self-Mutilation
Disturbed sleep
wake cycle
Sleep
maintenance difficulty
c. Physical Symptoms
Enuresis
Encopresis
Somatic
complaints
Dramatic
weight loss
Bulimia
nervosa
Anorexia
nervosa
2.)
Develop and Implement Coping Skills for dealing with feelings, thoughts
and behaviors.
Upon
termination, Group members should have successfully developed, and should be
consistently implementing coping skills to help them through the recovery
process. The group members must also be able to transfer these skills from
the learning environment to their school, home, and community environments.
Evidence of group members progress will show in that they have decreased
instances of suspension or detention from school,
0 instances of physical aggression,
they will be able to be assertive in relationships without being
inappropriately verbally aggressive, they
will have decreased consequences at home, and 0 instances of involvement
with law enforcement. Group
members should also have an increase in positive parent/child interactions
and more stable interactions with same/opposite sex peers.
Coping Skills
Stress
Management – Meditation, progressive relaxation, breathing exercises,
listening to music, using showers or walks, crying, spending time with friends
Progress in group is measured by use of learned skills consistently in the group
and by report of parents, foster parents, case workers and counselors.
Emotional
Management - Regulation and modulation of feelings without mood
disturbance or anxious response. Controlling impulses and/or compulsions.
Progress in the group is measured by use of learned skills consistently in the
group and by report of parents, foster parents, case workers and counselors.
Communication
Skills – Being able to relay information to others about needs, wants and
limits clearly. Being able to confront others without using inappropriate verbal
aggression. This is measured using the pre-group focus form and use of learned
skills consistently in the group.
Conflict
Resolution Skills – Resolving disagreements or interpersonal conflicts without
the use of physical aggression or inappropriate verbal aggression. Progress in
group is measured by use of learned skills consistently in the group and by
report of parents, foster parents, case workers and counselors.
Boundary
Management – Personal space, setting emotional and physical limits with
family, peers and others, communicating limits to others. Progress in group is
measured by use of learned skills consistently in the group and by report of
parents, foster parents, case workers and counselors.
Decision
Making Strategies - Determining risk, determining safety, naivety in
relationships, over trusting in relationships, not careful in decisions in
relationships. Progress in the group is measured by use of learned skills
consistently in the group and by report of parents, foster parents, case workers
and counselors.
3.)
Develop healthy sexual identity including understanding of healthy sexual
functioning and behavior.
Upon Termination
group members should be able to identify sexual anatomy, verbalize knowledge
of human reproduction and sexual functioning. They should also be able to
explore their own sexuality in an appropriate manner. There should also be a
reduction of use of
inappropriate sexual exploration. Group members should also have a healthier
view of sex, sexuality, sexual functioning, sexual boundaries. Group members
should be able to communicate with parents and care givers about their
sexuality and sexual maturation. Group members should be able to report a
decrease in the following symptoms as applicable.
a. Sexual Socialization
Child in a
parentified role
Negative
view of sex
Exploitation
of child’s sexuality versus maturation of sexual development
Disrespect
for sexual responsiveness
Exploitation
of physical touch
Disregard
of physical and emotional privacy
Lack of
parent/child communication regarding sexuality and sexual maturation.
b. Sexual Behaviors
Public
masturbation
Sexual
experimentation including w/younger children
Shy withdrawn behavior from others
Sexual
promiscuity
Dressing or
interacting in a sexually provocative manner
Partner
swapping
Preoccupation
w/sex
Increased
masturbation
Rush into sexual activity
Despair
regarding inability to control sexual urges
Sexually
transmitted diseases
Impaired
feminine identification
Prostitution
Molestation of
younger children
Sexual
delinquency
Sexual
orientation and role confusion
Asexual behavior
4.)
Establish and use an appropriate support system.
Group members
should be able to identify people and agencies that that can provide them
support and be a help to them as they continue to deal with distressful
events in their lives.
Support
Network
Lack of
familial support
Lack of
extra-familial report
Unstable interpersonal relationship
5.)
Improve self worth.
Group members should be able to feel good about their
self. They should be able to verbalize self-confidence and self- respect. As
they leave the group, members should be able to be comfortable with their body,
their sexuality, and how they relate with those around them. Group members
should report a decrease in
symptoms as applicable.
Poor
Self Image
Negative Body
Image
Negative view
of Self in relation to peers
Negative view
of Self in relation to parents
Negative view
of Self in relation to authority
Negative view
of Self in relation to society
Negative view
of sex, sex terms, and sexuality
Negative Self Description
PAYMENTS ACCEPTED
:
Medicaid, Victim’s Assistance (when obtained), Private
Payment, Insurance (must be pre-authorized).
