Diagnosis and work with children affected by sexual violence

Abstract

Sexual abuse of a child is evil not in itself, but an evil arising from the deprivation of the child’s carefree ability to enter into relationships, establish relationships, showing and accepting feelings. Children badly treated in such an intimate sphere as sexuality are exposed to a number of mental and health disorders. People who experienced this type of violence in childhood have difficulty in accepting their own body or having self-respect and respect towards others. The earlier the diagnosis the greater the chances of stopping the destructive thoughts and beliefs of the child. In Poland, the awareness of sexual violence against children is growing and therefore social sensitivity to the suffering of a child is increasing. Thanks to the media, persons affected by sexual violence have an opportunity to talk about traumatic experiences and thus encourage the institutions and people to make efforts to help alleviate the phenomenon. Knowledge of teachers and people who work with or care for children can play a special role. This article contains a number of helpful ways to diagnose and deal with situations of sexual violence, which may prove useful.