The Contribution of Counselors in Building Parental Literacy Regarding Trauma Recovery in Children Victims of Sexual Violence

Abstract

Sexual violence against children is a major crime that leaves behind traumatic events. Special handling is thus required for their trauma recovery process. As parents play a pivotal role in their children’s trauma healing, building parental literacy on trauma recovery is essential. Therefore, counselors who deal with child victims of sexual violence are responsible for fostering parental involvement.  Our longitudinal case study tries to scrutinize the contribution of counselors in building parental literacy regarding the recovery of children after experiencing trauma due to sexual violence. The data were gathered via in-depth interviews and observations of nine counselors at the Center for the Protection of Women and Children.  The study's findings revealed that the counselors built the parents' understanding of the psychological condition of children victims of sexual violence and the purpose of counseling. In addition, they also explained trauma recovery therapy plans to parents and built their awareness of the importance of parental involvement in the trauma recovery process for child victims of sexual violence. This study helps inspire how essential it is to educate parents in appropriately handling the trauma recovery process for their children victims of sexual violence.