Survivors of Childhood Abuse: Their Reported Experiences with Professional Help

• Published in: Social work (New York) Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 136 - 145
• Main Authors: Palmer, Sally E., Brown, Ralph A., Rae-Grant, Naomi I., Loughlin, M. Joanne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 01.04.2001; National Association of Social Workers
• Subjects: abuse; Adult; Adult child abuse victims; Adult Children; Adults; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antisocial Behavior; Canada; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse - psychology; Child Sexual Abuse; Child, Preschool; Childhood; Childhood abuse; Childhood Experiences; Children; Client Characteristics (Human Services); Client Relations; Counseling; Counselling; Counselor Client Relationship; Daily Living Skills; Data Collection; Depression (Psychology); Depressive disorders; Emotional Response; Empathy; Family (Sociological Unit); Family Relationship; Female; Females; Help Seeking; Helping Relationship; Helpseeking; Humans; Interpersonal Relationship; Male; Memory; Men; Mental health; Mental health professionals; Mental Health Services - utilization; Middle Aged; Ontario; Outcomes of Treatment; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Patient Satisfaction; Personal experiences; Personality Problems; professionals; Psychological aspects; Questionnaires; Resistance (Psychology); Self Destructive Behavior; Self Esteem; Sexual Abuse; Social service; Social services; Social Work; Social Work, Psychiatric; Social Workers; Substance Abuse; Survivors; Victimization; Victims; Ontario; United States; abuse; counseling; survivors; mental health; professionals
• ISSN: 0037-8046; 1545-6846
• DOI: 10.1093/sw/46.2.136

This article analyzes the self-reports of 384 adults who responded to a survey of people abused physically, sexually, or emotionally by family members in childhood. Most of the respondents sought help as adults from social workers and other mental health professionals for the long-term effects of their abusive experiences. This article analyses the reports of their help-seeking experiences against a backdrop of the reports of clinicians and researchers on working with survivors, as reported in the literature. Although survivors of childhood abuse often are described as having difficulty relating to professionals, these respondents persisted in seeking help and tended to report at least one experience with professional services that was very helpful. Their self-esteem and family functioning in adulthood was associated with having had a very helpful professional or service provider. The findings describe the responses most valued by survivors, as well as their views of the limitations of available services.