Treatment of adult survivors of childhood sexual assault: Imagery within a systemic framework

Abstract

Increasingly, therapists are encountering the needs of adult survivors of childhood sexual assault as the primary therapeutic issue, or as a part of some other presenting complaint. In this paper, a summary of the common emotional and relational dynamics is presented within a systemic framework. A five-step guided imagery model is offered as an effective method of intervening. Successful therapy impacts significantly on family-of-origin relationships and present coupleships, so cautions in using the imagery model are presented.