How Health Professionals Treat the Sexual Abuse of Children

Sexual abuse of children is extremely hard to manage. Children often don’t understand what happened, have less ability to communicate their anger and explain what happened than adults, and often have long-term adverse effects from any type of sexual abuse. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2004, early detection of sexual abuse and treatment of that abuse is essential. Children who are not identified as victims in a timely manner are statistically more likely to become runaways, fail to follow laws, and some may even get involved in prostitution.

Why effective counseling of sexual child abuse victims is so important

There are four main effects of sexual abuse of children:

• Psychological harm
• Emotional challenges
• Behavioral difficulties
• Sexual problems

Children who have been sexually abused often suffer:

• Depression
• Substance abuse and eating disorders
• Anxiety
• Difficulty in developing personal relationships in childhood and adulthood

Later in life, many child victims are more likely to be divorced or separated, requiring family and marital counseling. In the worst scenarios, some children commit suicide. Young sexual abuse victims often do poorly in school and are more likely than non-abused victims to commit juvenile and adult crimes. Many victims are sexually promiscuous, which can result in pregnancies before the age of 18.

The duties of mental health professionals who counsel children

Mental health professionals are obligated to comply with the California laws on reporting suspicions of child abuse to child protective services who can then investigate.

According to three professors and assistant professors of child counseling at Kent State University and Youngstown State University, proper educational counseling should include many different factors. Many incidents of sexual abuse happen in schools and in youth organizations. These factors are also sound advice for the mental health profession outside of a school setting. Some of these factors are:

• Showing that the counselors understand the state reporting requirements and ethical duties
• Having prevention and awareness programs in place for the children and for the parents
• Requiring participation in FBI and state criminal background checks
• Insuring that multiple adults supervise children

Counselors must regularly review the laws at all levels that protect children from sexual abuse, such as Megan’s Law.

The Los Angeles child sexual abuse attorneys at Taylor & Ring are extremely sensitive and caring about how children are traumatized by sexual abuse. Children are quick to place their trust in adults. When that trust is shattered by sexual abuse, the child faces enormous emotional difficulties in addition to sometimes needing medical care for physical abuse.

Our lawyers work with experienced psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals to guide your child through the litigation process. We demand abusers and those responsible for attacks, such as schools and school districts throughout Southern California, be held accountable. For help now, please call us at 310-776-6390 or make an appointment through our contact form.

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