A framework for practice with women survivors of childhood sexual abuse

Women who are victims of prolonged childhood sexual abuse involving penetration, and physical and emotional abuse are more likely to develop major psychiatric distress. These survivors may use defence mechanisms to block out the past, and their distress may only come to the attention of health professionals at times of crisis. However, health practitioners do not routinely assess for a history of sexual abuse. This state of affairs is compounded by limited research on survivors of childhood sexual abuse and a readiness to label them with adult psychopathology. Such labels result from a failure to listen and from a willingness to blame, processes replicated from the dominant culture.