Group Therapy: A Treatment of Choice for Young Victims of Child Abuse

ABSTRACT

This article presents a model for the group treatment of young children who are victims of physical or sexual abuse using the basic socialization unit, the family, as the analogue model. Components of the model include male–female cotherapists, a peer group of abused children, periodic home visits, a consultative rather than therapeutic relationship with the caretakers, and group supervision of the therapists. Seven therapeutic goals are identified which highlight therapeutic issues unique to the abused child within a developmental framework. A case example illustrates the process.