Benefits of Therapy
Therapy is a vital piece of the healing process. The staff and volunteers at Ralston House strongly encourage you and your child to receive professional counseling directly following your visit to Ralston House.
Benefits to Children
Reinforce that the abuse is not the child’s fault
Reassure children that nothing is wrong with them ~ they were not chosen or picked over other children
Learn strategies to manage the consequences of being exposed to trauma
Receive help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), dissociation, avoidance, if needed
Integrate the exposure to precocious knowledge (i.e., acting-out behavior)
Secure the sexual identity process
Regain control of sexual, behavioral and cognitive developmental processes
Provide clarity and reinforcement of appropriate boundaries
Manage their protective feelings of offender
Reinstate trust in the world and belief systems
Manage the effects of being abused ~ research suggests that effects of sexual abuse can be minimized if dealt with up front or immediately after a disclosure instead of in adult life
Benefits to Parents/Caregivers
Reinforce that the abuse is not the parent’s fault
Manage your protective feelings of offender
Reinstate trust in the world and belief systems
Manage secondary trauma symptoms
Gain knowledge of treatment process
Appropriately talk to the child about what happened
Appropriately talk to the child about boundaries and safety
Access support when normal support system may have failed (for example, other support systems may be supporting the offender)
