Clients reporting incestuous abuse that continues into adulthood represent a relatively small sample of child sexual abuse survivors, but one that is rarely researched or discussed in clinical training. Existing cases studies suggest these clients often experience sadistic, prolonged abuse. Abuse may involve multiple perpetrators and overlap with organised and semi-organised abuse. Survivors tend to be chronically unwell and severely dissociative. However there is little research investigating clinical work with these clients, nor the experience of the therapists themselves. This webinar will present the findings of in depth qualitative research interviews conducted with a sample of Australian therapists who discussed their experiences of working with clients who reported incestuous abuse continuing into adulthood. Drawing on the therapists' reports, the presenter will outline key features of the cases. The presenter will also describe the therapists' conceptualisation of the factors that were associated with the abuse continuing into adulthood. Therapists found a number of factors including having a disorganised and enmeshed attachment to the perpetrator; social isolation; and having a non-protective or abusive mother were all associated with the abuse continuing. The presenter will discuss the clinical and service provision implications of these findings. In addition the presentation will describe the reactions and experiences of the therapists themselves. Their experiences carry important implications for therapists' training, the provisions of inter-agency supports for such clients, and for the management of vicarious trauma in therapists.

 

Potential to Distress: Yes