Making the Hurt Go Away: Psychological and Spiritual Healing for African American Women Survivors of Childhood Incest

Abstract

Psychological and spiritual healing for African American women survivors of childhood sexual abuse are defined and discussed. A description of a support group facilitated by the author for African American women survivors provides clinical insight. Sexuality, which is undoubtedly affected by incest, is also discussed. Implications for counselors and recommendations for their self-care are presented.

Making Sense of Abuse: Case Studies in Sibling Incest

“…Interviews were utilized in a limited number of studies (DeVoe & Coulburn Faller, 1999;Hartley, 2001;Jean-Gilles & Crittenden, 1990;Laviola, 1992;Kreklewetz & Piotrowski, 1998). Conceptual studies have also been limited (DiGiorgio-Miller, 1998;Hargett, 1998;Robinson, 2000;Trepper & Barrett, 1986).…”

Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Religious Life: Challenges of Theory and Method

“…In this approach, the importance of intersectionality, or "the mutually constitutive relations among social identities" (Shields, 2008, p. 301), cannot be overstressed. African American women survivors, for instance, must contend with not only the discourses of sexism but racism in the Christian representation of God's holiness and purity as synonymous with White people in general and White female virgins in particular (Robinson, 2000). It should be noted that this review identified only two studies that integrated feminist theory into their conceptual framework (Imbens & Jonker, 1992;Russell, 1986).…”

“…It should be noted that this review identified only two studies that integrated feminist theory into their conceptual framework (Imbens & Jonker, 1992;Russell, 1986). A priority for future research may thus be to adopt a feminist perspective with an eye on intersectionality (Robinson, 2000) and the potential for religion to heal women survivors (Glaister & Abel, 2001;Valentine & Feinauer, 1993). Critical questions for psychological inquiry might include the following: (a) What are women survivors' lived experiences of Christianity?…”

Service Patterns of Adult Survivors of Childhood Versus Adult Sexual Assault/Abuse

“…The literature supports that the variation in service utilization seems to be related to a number of factors including disclosure (Rennison, 2002;Ullman & Brecklin, 2003), which highlights the role played by shame and stigma. For example, adult survivors of CSA, particularly incest survivors, may need to overcome years of shame, fear, and denial before they can even seek formal assistance (e.g., see Godbey & Hutchinson, 1996;Mize, Bentley, Helms, Ledbetter, & Neblett, 1995;Robinson, 2000).…”

“…As Campbell (1998) noted in reference to female survivors of rape: "If women receive the services they need, and are treated in an empathic supported manner, then our social systems can work as effective catalysts for healing" (p. 356). A number of specific individual therapeutic and group interventions have been empirically validated for adult survivors of CSA and/or ASA (e.g., see Campbell, 2001;Edmond, Sloan, & McCarty, 2004;Fallot & Harris, 2002;Foa, Hembree, & Rothbaum, 2007;Kessler, White, & Nelson, 2003;Resick & Schnicke, 1992;Robinson, 2000;Thun, Sims, Adams, & Webb, 2002;Zlotnick, et al, 1997).…”