Affective Responses of Counselors to Child Sexual Abuse Disclosure

Research has found that the counselor s response to
disclosure of child sexual abuse experiences has a
significant impact on the client s well-being,
continuation in therapy, and progress in treatment.
However, few studies have investigated the
counselor s affective responses to a client who
discloses a child sexual abuse history. This book
investigates the range of counselor s affective
responses when confronted with the topic of child
sexual abuse and to investigate what factors
influenced these reactions.
The analysis suggested that measuring
affectiveresponses to child sexual abuse is a complex
and multidimensional construct with many variances.
In addition, the findings of the study support the
importance of counselors and counselors-in-training
to be prepared prior to their first exposure to
clients who disclose child sexual abuse to illicit
more positive responses from such clients. Thus, the
results of this study support the need for more child
sexual abuse training and counselor experience in
order to deflect any negative responses on clients
who disclose child sexual abuse.

Autorentext

Yun Hui Gardner, PhD in Counselor Education from MississippiState University. MA in Marriage & Family Therapy from JohnsonBible College. Currently work as Mental Health Counselor atNorthern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services, Sparks, Nevada.

Klappentext

Research has found that the counselor's response todisclosure of child sexual abuse experiences has asignificant impact on the client's well-being,continuation in therapy, and progress in treatment.However, few studies have investigated thecounselor's affective responses to a client whodiscloses a child sexual abuse history. This bookinvestigates the range of counselor's affectiveresponses when confronted with the topic of childsexual abuse and to investigate what factorsinfluenced these reactions. The analysis suggested that measuringaffectiveresponses to child sexual abuse is a complexand multidimensional construct with many variances.In addition, the findings of the study support theimportance of counselors and counselors-in-trainingto be prepared prior to their first exposure toclients who disclose child sexual abuse to illicitmore positive responses from such clients. Thus, theresults of this study support the need for more childsexual abuse training and counselor experience inorder to deflect any negative responses on clientswho disclose child sexual abuse.