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What is child sexual abuse?

Child sexual abuse is any interaction between a minor and another child and/or adult where inappropriate sexual acts such as physical contact are involved. Sexual abuse without physical contact may also include voyeurism (looking at the child’s naked body), exhibitionism (the abuser shows his or her private parts to the child) and/or exposing the child to pornography. Abusers use blackmail and manipulation methods (e.g., games, candy, money, tricks) to trick children and keep them quiet.

Symptoms:

Increased nightmares, difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Courage attacks
Withdrawn behavior
Anxiety
Depression
Fear of being alone with someone in particular
Knowledge of sexual matters, conduct inappropriate for a child of his or her age

**It is important to emphasize that sometimes children do not show symptoms that they are or have been sexually abused. This does not mean that they do not have psychological trauma due to sexual abuse.

Why don't children say they have been sexually abused?

Threats of physical aggression to the child or the child's family
Fear of being separated from their family
Fear of being blamed or disbelieved
Shame
Culpability
Confusion about acts of sexual abuse (if they are led to believe it is in the form of play).

What to do if your child tells you he/she has been sexually abused?

Stay calm, listen to your child and never blame him or her. Give your unconditional support and seek help immediately. If you suspect a child is being or has been sexually abused, call the National Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

Child Sexual Abuse Statistics

1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before the age of 18.
Approximately 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday.
20% of adult women and 5-10% of adult men recall having experienced an incident of sexual abuse.
In one year, in the United States, 16% of children between the ages of 14 and 17 are sexually abused.
Children are most vulnerable to child sexual abuse between the ages of 7 and 13.
Children and adolescents who do not live with both parents or who experience parental discord, divorce or domestic violence suffer a higher risk of being victims of sexual abuse.

¿which is “Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” (TF-CBT)?

TF-CBT is a therapeutic practice which helps children, adolescents and their caregivers overcome the negative effects caused by psychological trauma. It is designed to reduce the emotional and behavioral effects of sexual abuse, domestic violence, traumatic loss, as well as other traumatic events.

Treatment focuses on providing clients with a safe and private environment where they can talk about their traumatic experience.

Characteristics of the TF-CBT:

It focuses on the negative effects caused by sexual abuse, domestic violence, or other traumatic events.
It integrates various therapeutic theories to treat children as well as affected parents or caregivers.
Treatment involves the child and parents or caregivers in individual and family sessions.
Each session is designed to establish trust, educate clients and provide a safe environment.

Objectives of the TF-CBT:

Reduce the negative emotional and behavioral effects of psychological trauma.
Correcting unhealthy and unnecessary beliefs and behaviors related to the traumatic experience (e.g., believing that the child was responsible for the abuse).
Proveerle a los padres o encargados con el apoyo y herramientas necesarias para lidiar con sus propios efectos emocionales y poder apoyar y ayudar a sus hijos.

Fuente: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/trauma y National Child Traumatic Stress Network