Masters Degrees (Psychology)

Permanent URI for this collection

http://hdl.handle.net/11660/587

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Psychology) by Subject "Abused children -- Psychology"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Developmental touch therapy with sexually abused children
    (University of the Free State, 2005-11) Lightfoot, Carlyn; Louw, A. E.
    English: There is a limited amount of research available on the re-establishment of attachment bonds eroded by Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). One way of re-establishing these bonds could be through Developmental Touch Therapy (DTT). The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of DTT with children who have been sexually abused. A multiple case-study design was used. Three girls and one boy, between the ages of five and eight years, participated in the study. DTT was implemented by means of 10 weekly individual therapy sessions. A qualitative description of the therapeutic intervention as experienced by the therapist was made. Process notes and video recordings of sessions facilitated the external supervision and evaluation of the process. Pre- as well as post-tests were administered by making use of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)/4-18 (parent report form) (Achenbach, 1991a) and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)/5-18 (teacher report form) (Achenbach, 1991b). The different subscales were totalled, and the results were tested by computing nonparametric Wilcoxon T-tests for the subscales and the scale totals. No significant results were found from the pre- or post-tests. This might be attributable to the small sample size. The qualititative results indicated that the problem behaviours reported as clinically significant pre-therapy by caregivers and teachers had decreased to a level below clinical significance post-therapy for most participants. Although sexual problems had decreased they were still present in most subjects. DTT does re-establish attachment bonds which have been severed by CSA. It furthermore enhances the development of a sense of self, trust, and safety. An increase in self-esteem and interpersonal functioning could be seen in all participants. However, DTT does not directly address children’s cognitions with regard to CSA. Skills regarding problematic sexual behaviours are not addressed. Although affectively addressing many symptoms of CSA, DTT cannot be seen as a holistic treatment approach in this regard. It could however be valuable as part of an integrative therapeutic treatment of victims of CSA.