A MULTIDIMENSIONAL MODEL OF GROUPWORK FOR ADOLESCENT GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ABUSED

This paper describes a treatment approach for sexually abused adolesce nt girls using a group work model. The model incorporates three treatm ent modalities: a skills component, a psychotherapeutic component, and an educative component. The group ran for 16 sessions over a 6-month period and each girl was assessed prior to joining the group. The girl s were again assessed at the end of treatment and at 6-months follow-u p; all of them showed improvement on self-statements (outcome) and on behavioral measures assessed by others (follow-up). Girls who had been sexually abused demonstrated difficulties in many areas of their live s following abuse. These problems related to their feelings of guilt a nd helplessness in relation to both themselves and their abuser. Sexua lly abused children often have poor knowledge of sexual matters and de monstrate confusion over their own body image. Using a multidimensiona l model the problems following abuse can be addressed.