Male partners of female victims of child sexual abuse: Treatment issues and approaches

Abstract

Male partners of women who have suffered child sexual abuse (CSA) can have particular needs which are often overlooked, and which mainly relate to partners' potential for vicarious victimhood. Their inclusion in therapy may be essential to successful outcome, since CSA impacts on close relationships as much as on victims alone. This report examines male partners' needs through the available literature and through interviews with therapists working in this field; treatment approaches are then considered. Issues arising in same sex relationships and from CSA by women are only referred to incidentally. While individual and couple therapies put foremost emphasis on the need to proceed at a pace and in ways which suit the victim, group approaches which focus on peer support, education and understanding may be especially helpful to partners.