Thesis (MA) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the outcome of cognitive restructuring for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse in terms of clinically significant change. Twenty-six participants were assessed for depression, State anxiety, State anger, State guilt and self-esteem before and after 10 weekly sessions of group Rational-emotive behaviour therapy and at follow-up after 8 weeks. In contrast to a previous analysis of the data in terms of statistical significance indicating significant improvements on all variables from pre- to post-treatment, an analysis based on clinically significant change showed a differentiated treatment effect. Cognitive restructuring was found to be highly effective in facilitating recovery on measures of anxiety, depression and anger, but less effective for guilt and self-esteem. Only 3 participants (11.54%) recovered on all five variables, while 10 participants (38.46%) showed recovery on at least four variables. Relationship to perpetrator and pre-treatment irrational evaluative beliefs (measured by means of the Survey of Personal Beliefs) were found to be the best predictors of treatment outcome. A poor response to treatment was associated with the perpetrator being a close family member and with more Otherdirected Shoulds, while recovery was associated with the perpetrator being a friend or stranger and with more Awfulizing, Self-directed Shoulds and Negative Self-worth beliefs. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is die uitkoms van kognitiewe herstrukturering, as behandelingsprosedure VIr volwasse slagoffers van kindermolesteuring, in terme van kliniese betekenisvolheid ondersoek. Sesen- twintig deelnemers is voor en na behandeling (10 weeklikse groepsessies van Rasioneelemotiewe gedragsterapie) en by opvolg na 8 weke in terme van depressie, Staat-angs, Staat-woede, Staat-skuldgevoelens en selfwaarde geassesseer. In 'n vorige analise van die data in terme van statistiese betekenisvolheid is betekenisvolle verbetering na behandeling op al die veranderlikes gevind. 'n Heranalise van die data in terme van kliniese betekenisvolheid toon egter 'n gedifferensieerde behandelingseffek. Daar is gevind dat kognitiewe herstrukturering hoogs effektief was om herstel in terme van angs, depressie en woede te fasiliteer, maar minder effektief was ten opsigte van skuld en negatiewe selfwaarde. Slegs 3 patiente (11.54%) het klinies betekenisvol op al vyfveranderlikes verbeter, terwyl 10 pasiente (38.46%) op minstens vier veranderlikes herstel het. Die pasient se verhouding tot die molesteerder en irrasionele kognisies voor behandeling (gemeet met die Survey of Personal Beliefs) was die beste voorspellers van behandelingsuitkoms. 'n Swak respons op behandeling het verb and getoon met 'n naby familielid as molesteerder en met meer Ander-gerigte Eise, terwyl herstel geassosieer het met 'n vriend of vreemdeling as molesteerder en met die irrasionele kognisies van Katastrofering, Self-gerigte Eise en Negatiewe Selfbeoordeling.

This thesis examines the therapeutic narratives of sexually abused women. It is based on four in-depth case studies and my experience in counselling hundreds of other women. Two opening chapters outline the methodological and theoretical basis upon which these stories have come to be presented. These accounts unfold through a therapeutic facilitation which has been informed by feminist and narrative therapies, Jungian dream analysis, and a vast array of sexual abuse and related literature. My written translation of these experiences, on the other hand, has been shaped greatly by sociological argument. The foremost of these include feminist standpoint theory, reflexive transformation, and symbolic interaction. The bringing together of these fields serves to create two additional and sometimes conflicting voices - therapist and researcher - which are heard in and around the voices of my clients. The main body of the thesis develops, in storied form, clients' attempts to define and reintegrate themselves following sexual violations in light of a lack of self-authority, fears around voicing their trauma, fragmented memories, disassociation from their own language and symbolism, and a general sense of personal invalidity. In the face of these and other obstacles the therapeutically facilitated accounts bring to the fore unique and creative strategies for integrating these similarly dehumanizing experiences. Each narrative also speaks clearly of the need for a perspective outside of the client which will, in reflecting it back to her, hopefully disarm some of its horror for her and eventually allow it to be integrated by her. In addition, popular therapeutic discourse on sexual abuse has inadvertently served to silence many of my clients by removing them from this experience through a reconstruction of it for them in a theory and language that falls short of capturing its essence. These narrative reconstructions alternatively dispense with those and other descriptions of the client's trauma in favour of internally produced symbols and associations. Just as the sexual abuse narrative needs a discourse into which it can flow in order for it to be heard, it needs also to first be made right at the intra-personal level before it can be widely shared. Within the context of this thesis the therapist has mediated the client's story while the sociologist has sought and amplified its social significance.

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth description of the lived experience of recovery for young adult women who had been sexually abused as children. Nine women participated in the study. In order to be a part of the study, the women were between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of the first interview, and had been sexually abused before the age of 12 by a family member. Family members could include parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The sexual abuse must have been repetitive in nature and lasted for a period of 6 months or longer. The women had also participated in some type of therapy, for at least 6 months, where sexual abuse was the primary focus. As well, the women had some awareness that they were in recovery and were able to talk about their own experience of recovery. The interviews and the data analysis followed a phenomenological approach. The researcher conducted four interviews with each participant over a twenty month period. Ten common themes representing the lived experience of recovery from sexual abuse for young adult women emerged. The lived experience of recovery (1) involves working through the denial of being sexually abused, (2) diminishes the lasting effects of sexual abuse, (3) helps the person move from a victim stance to a survivor stance, (4) is a journey of self-discovery, (5) fosters the possibility for improved relationships with family members, friends, and partners, (6) reduces the negative influence of the perpetrator, (7) encompasses a variety of therapeutic encounters, (8) helps the person to explore the ambiguity of memory, (9) influences future direction, and (10) is a complex process with no clear resolution. The descriptions of each theme illustrate how the women were able to confront and transform the trauma of being sexually abused. The findings of this study describe how young adult women perceive the lived experience of recovery and illuminate what needs to take place so that recovery is possible. The lived experience of recovery is an interactive phenomenon which requires the women to explore the meaning of recovery both intrapersonally and interpersonally. As the women's thoughts, perceptions, beliefs, feelings, and expectations change internally, the ways in which they interact with the world around them shift as well. The lived experience of recovery is both complex and perplexing. The findings from this study offer recommendations for counselling research and practice in the area of sexual abuse for young adult women.

The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth description of the lived experience of recovery for young adult women who had been sexually abused as children. Nine women participated in the study. In order to be a part of the study, the women were between the ages of 16 and 25 at the time of the first interview, and had been sexually abused before the age of 12 by a family member. Family members could include parents, step-parents, siblings, step-siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The sexual abuse must have been repetitive in nature and lasted for a period of 6 months or longer. The women had also participated in some type of therapy, for at least 6 months, where sexual abuse was the primary focus. As well, the women had some awareness that they were in recovery and were able to talk about their own experience of recovery. The interviews and the data analysis followed a phenomenological approach. The researcher conducted four interviews with each participant over a twenty month period. Ten common themes representing the lived experience of recovery from sexual abuse for young adult women emerged. The lived experience of recovery (1) involves working through the denial of being sexually abused, (2) diminishes the lasting effects of sexual abuse, (3) helps the person move from a victim stance to a survivor stance, (4) is a journey of self-discovery, (5) fosters the possibility for improved relationships with family members, friends, and partners, (6) reduces the negative influence of the perpetrator, (7) encompasses a variety of therapeutic encounters, (8) helps the person to explore the ambiguity of memory, (9) influences future direction, and (10) is a complex process with no clear resolution. The descriptions of each theme illustrate how the women were able to confront and transform the trauma of being sexually abused. The findings of this study describe how young adult women perceive the lived experience of recovery and illuminate what needs to take place so that recovery is possible. The lived experience of recovery is an interactive phenomenon which requires the women to explore the meaning of recovery both intrapersonally and interpersonally. As the women's thoughts, perceptions, beliefs, feelings, and expectations change internally, the ways in which they interact with the world around them shift as well. The lived experience of recovery is both complex and perplexing. The findings from this study offer recommendations for counselling research and practice in the area of sexual abuse for young adult women. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

Abstract This qualitative research explores creative movement processes such as dance/movement therapy (DMT), authentic movement (AM), and creative dance (CD) as possible tools for transforming sexual trauma for women. Eleven movement professionals were interviewed in a semi-structured research format. My direct experience and knowledge of sexual abuse, sexual trauma, and creative movement processes are interwoven with the research question: do creative dance/movement therapy processes contribute to the dynamic of healing for women transforming sexual trauma? These findings are inconclusive for the greater population of survivors of sexual abuse and sexual trauma. However, there are indications that DMT, AM, and CD may be potential tools for recovery. This research contributes to a dialogue about sexual abuse and recovery from sexual trauma.

The results of this study revealed that despite the childhood sexual abuse event, the victims were able to change their views in a positive direction with regard to the benevolence of the world and people as they marched through life and presumably experienced positive events.

A journey to healing is a story of women survivors of sexual abuse. Through narrative pastoral conversations a group or community of concern was formed that witnessed how these women managed to move by re-telling from problem-saturated dominant lifestories to rich alternative stories of survival. Post-modern practical theology formed the epistemological backdrop of this study with the focus on taking a prophetically, ethical and political stance. The group deconstructed patriarchal knowledge that has been dominant in constructing understanding of women. Deconstruction lead to the centralising of previously subjugated knowledge about themselves and made multiple identities and preferred realities possible. Feminist theology's liberating spirit contributed to this participator action research where women moved from being right to doing right. The monthly celebration teas hosted by the group were instrumental in the healing of other women who have experienced sexual violation. / Practical Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

A journey to healing is a story of women survivors of sexual abuse. Through narrative pastoral conversations a group or community of concern was formed that witnessed how these women managed to move by re-telling from problem-saturated dominant lifestories to rich alternative stories of survival. Post-modern practical theology formed the epistemological backdrop of this study with the focus on taking a prophetically, ethical and political stance. The group deconstructed patriarchal knowledge that has been dominant in constructing understanding of women. Deconstruction lead to the centralising of previously subjugated knowledge about themselves and made multiple identities and preferred realities possible. Feminist theology's liberating spirit contributed to this participator action research where women moved from being right to doing right. The monthly celebration teas hosted by the group were instrumental in the healing of other women who have experienced sexual violation. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th. (Pastoral Therapy)

Statistics for sexually abused children are high. When children do not receive therapy, they may develop marital problems later in life. Survivors of sexual abused have difficulty letting other people come close to them. Because emotional and sexual intimacy is important components of a marital relationship, survivors of sexual abused experience conflict within their marriages. Intimacy in the marital relationship reminds them of the abuse situation and they would try to escape from it. If couples do not go through therapeutic intervention, they would have difficulty understanding the changes in their relationship after the marriage. Within a therapeutic environment partners are able to recognise the effects of abuse and are able to learn how to handle it in order to achieve a successful marriage. The changes in intimacy levels after marriage will be investigated in this study. The study will make recommendations towards professional principles for social workers in practice. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Sciences)

Statistics for sexually abused children are high. When children do not receive therapy, they may develop marital problems later in life. Survivors of sexual abused have difficulty letting other people come close to them. Because emotional and sexual intimacy is important components of a marital relationship, survivors of sexual abused experience conflict within their marriages. Intimacy in the marital relationship reminds them of the abuse situation and they would try to escape from it. If couples do not go through therapeutic intervention, they would have difficulty understanding the changes in their relationship after the marriage. Within a therapeutic environment partners are able to recognise the effects of abuse and are able to learn how to handle it in order to achieve a successful marriage. The changes in intimacy levels after marriage will be investigated in this study. The study will make recommendations towards professional principles for social workers in practice. / Social Work / M. A. (Social Sciences)