doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200010300
Article type: Original Research
1 January 2001
Volume 26 Issue 3
doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200010300
Article type: Original Research
1 January 2001
Volume 26 Issue 3
![]()
Listening to the child victim of abuse through the process of therapy: A case study
Affiliations
1 PO Box 525, Ringwood, bnmudaly@infoxchange.net.au
2 Child Abuse & Family Violence Research Unit, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Contributions
Neerosh Mudaly -
Chris Goddard -
Neerosh Mudaly1
Chris Goddard2
Affiliations
1 PO Box 525, Ringwood, bnmudaly@infoxchange.net.au
2 Child Abuse & Family Violence Research Unit, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
CITATION: Mudaly N., & Goddard C. (2001). Listening to the child victim of abuse through the process of therapy: A case study. Children Australia, 26(3), 1347. doi.org/10.1017/S1035077200010300
download full pdf
Abstract
When a child has been abused by his or her father or father-figure and makes the statement ‘I want Dad to come home’, whose voice are we hearing in treatment, how do we interpret and respond to what the child is saying? Understanding and responding to the voices of victims of abuse is a complex issue. This paper explores the issues of listening to and responding to a young vicitm of abuse in the context of the impact of the abuse on this young person, and how these issues emerged and were addressed in the therapeutic process. Amanda, a 13-year-old girl, disclosed sexual abuse by her stepfather. In the initial months of counselling she repeatedly expressed her wish for her stepfather to return home. Amanda’s response to therapy, the short-term and long-term impact issues that were addressed, and the various therapeutic techniques that were used to assist in her recovery, are traced in the context of theoretical considerations.