Walking in the Shoes of a Victim

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Walking in the Shoes of a Victim

• Brian Dunne
• Clinical Psychologist
• 26th Feb 2nd Apr 2009

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• Mental Health Warning

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Aims of Presentation

• General Overview of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA)
• Definition of CSA
• Impact on the Victim from Childhood into Adult
  State
• The Mind of a Perpetrator
• Impact on the Clerical Community from Media
  Fallout of Clerical Sexual Abuse Reports
• Learning from Mistakes and Where to Next

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Overview

• Major Public Health Problem affecting 16 boys
  and 14 girls
• As recently as 40 years ago Childhood Sexual
  Abuse was considered uncommon esp among young
  males
• Heightened awareness through media, public
  concern, and an increased comfort level in
  discussing sexual violence

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Definition of CSA

• Contacts or interactions between a child and an
  adult when the child is being used for sexual
  stimulation of the perpetrator who is in a
  position of power, authority or control over the
  victim.
• (National Centre on Child Abuse Neglect)

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Examples of CSA

• Any time a child is engaged in a sexual situation
  with an older person
• This can include inappropriate physical contact
  by either party on a spectrum of behaviour from
  fondling up to rape
• Ploy a young person with mind altering substances
  and offering treats for the purposes of grooming
  for sexual abuse

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• Making a child watch pornography, or contribute
  in the production of it
• Exhibitionism
• Fondling, masturbation
• Oral sex
• Finger penetration
• Genital Penetration

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Impact on the VictimThe Robbery of Childhood

• Intense Fear during its Occurrence
• Intense Fear of it Happening Again
• Intense Fear of Not Being Believed
• Feelings of Shame and Guilt
• Emotional Pain Relentless Torment Anger
• Anxiety, Hypervigilance, Vulnerability, Paranoia
• Loss of Concentration ? Poor Academic Performance
• Poor Sleep, Night Sweats,
• Poor Appetite, Depression, S/I, DSH

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• Powerlessness, Helplessness, Hopelessness
• Feeling alone in the world Why me? What have
  I done to deserve this?
• Doubting ones own sexual orientation
• Loss of control, unable to make right the
  situation, or make sense of the experience
• Coping mechanisms as a means to escape during the
  experience and subsequent management of
  flashbacks
• Spiritual Harm - Soul Murder

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Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• A natural emotional response to a shocking and
  disturbing event
• The person experienced or witnessed a traumatic
  event that involved the fear of death or serious
  injury, or threat to the physical integrity of
  self or others
• The event involved intense fear, helplessness or
  horror

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The Trauma is Persistently Reexperienced Through

• Intrusive thoughts or images of the experience
• Recurrent distressing dreams
• A sense of reliving the experience
• Intense psychological distress at exposure to
  internal or external cues
• Intense physiological distress

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Avoidance

• Avoids thoughts, feelings, or conversations
  associated with the trauma
• Avoids activities, places, or people that arouse
  recollections of the trauma
• Blanks out on important aspects of the trauma
• Feels detached or estranged from others
• Lack of belief in a future

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Persistent Symptoms of Increased Arousal

• Sleep disturbance
• Irritability or outbursts of anger
• Poor concentration
• Hypervigilance
• Exaggerated startle response

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• Children who experience emotional abuse and
  physical violence are at an increased risk for
  developing a range of mental health conditions
  into adulthood
• What symptoms they do experience can be viewed as
  a normal response to an abnormal situation

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• Children develop a sense of trust in the world
  from the relationship with their early caretakers
  
• When mistreated their sense of self becomes
  damaged traumatised
• They view the world as unsafe and threatening
• They may lack the development of resources or ego
  strength to self sooth and deal appropriately
  with intrapsychic/interpersonal conflict

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A Complex PTSD

• A once off trauma which reoccurs until the victim
  expects and fears its reoccurrence. The victim
  believes they are unable to escape the situation
  and experiences fear, helplessness, hopelessness,
  lack of knowledge, validation, advice and
  supports

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Effects of CSA on the Adult

• Effects on Personal Identity
• Poor Self-Esteem
• Blames Self/Guilt
• Underachievement academically and professionally
• Underachievement emotionally

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• Effects on Interpersonal Relationships
• Trust Issues
• Relationship Difficulties
• Difficulties with Sexuality
• Effects on partners
• Effects on children (The hidden victims)

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• Mental Health Difficulties
• Avoidance Behaviours
• Anxiety/Hyper-Vigilance
• Depression/Withdrawal/Isolation
• Self-Medicating with Alcohol/Drug Misuse
• PTSD
• Suicide

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• Following Disclosure of CSA and appropriate
  treatment 2/3 of adults become less symptomatic
  within the first year

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The Perpetrator and His Behaviour in the
Progression of the Act

• Grooming is Defined as Manipulative Tactics
  Designed to Gain Compliance and to Prevent
  Disclosure
• A Mind of Psychopathic Proportions with Zero
  Empathy Their Need is Paramount
• Offenders Groom Both the Victim and Those who
  Attempt to Assist Them

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• The process of grooming of children can take on
  two distinct tactics non threatening our
  little secret or threatening behaviour with
  force, threats intimidation and duress
• Progressive Sexual Interaction
• Ensuring Continued Secrecy

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Impact on the Clergy

• Apologetic
• Defensive / Denial
• Afraid
• Angry
• Overwhelmed
• Demoralised
• View abuse victims as the enemy

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What to Do

• Dont deny dont conceal the abuse. Silence
  secrecy is the disregard that perpetuates abuse
• Think Child Protection not Church Protection
• Listen and Respond to Victims with Compassion
• Dont Minimise or Trivialise the Disclosure
• Dont Protect the Perpetrator he should know his
  behaviour wont be tolerated
• Whatever you do, trust your gut, dont do nothing
  -seek advice

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Where Do We Go From Here?

• The Mandatory Role Out of Policies, Procedures
  and Best Practice Protocols and Guidelines to
  Ensure
• Child Protection not Church Protection
• Child Protection not Perpetrator Protection
• While at the Same Time
• ? Clerical Awareness, Education and Comprehension
  of Effects of CSA