A Qualitative Study of the Effect of a History of Childhood Sexual Abuse on Therapists Who Treat Survivors of Sexual Abuse

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the effect of a history of sexual abuse on therapists who work with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. A comparison was made between experienced therapists who reported such a history and those who did not. Themes relating to vicarious traumatization (VT) were examined as well as data relating to positive self-transformation (PST), a category relating to enduring change in therapists of a positive nature. No notable differences were evident between groups with regard to VT or PST. Overall similarities were more striking than differences in the two groups examined in this study. This result is consistent with some empirical literature but contradicts some other studies. Therapists' experience with trauma work, and similarities between patients' and therapists' trauma histories, appear to be important factors in evaluating the impact on therapists in their work with sexual abuse survivors. Experienced therapists with a childhood sexual abuse history do not appear to be more vulnerable to VT than their counterparts without such a history.

Key Words:

• Sexual abuse
• secondary traumatization
• therapists
• countertransference
• vicarious traumatization