Sexual Abuse

Rape is defined as ‘unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who, at the time of intercourse, did not consent to it’, where the man ‘knows that she does not consent’

Short-term effects of Rape are pain, shock, dirtiness, fear, disbelief, denial, guilt, shame, helplessness, powerlessness, distorted self-image and confusion.

The longer-term effects are more complex. As with child abuse, victims suffer from

• Loss of Trust
• Fear of Safety
• Poor Self-Esteem
• Negative Self-Image
• Scarring
• Emotional Deadness
• Feeling Responsible for the Abuse
• Feeling isolation
• Guilt
• Bereavement
• Difficulty with Close Relationships

Most victims of abuse find psychotherapy useful for coming to terms with what has happened, allowing them to grieve for the person they were, and to reidentify themselves, accepting what has happened, but moving forward with their lives. Psychotherapy can help to alleviate individuals’ distress by allowing clients to understand the conflict within themselves and to find new ways of dealing with them.

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