The Consequences of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Abstract For most of us, sexual abuse of a child is an abhorrent thought. Yet, this is the root cause of the struggles and emotional trauma for many people being “treated” in the mental health system. Many mental health providers do not recognize this, and the questions that would bring this cause to light are never asked. Thus providers cannot and do not provide appropriate assistance, the emotional trauma continues and may be exacerbated by the “treatment,” and deterioration often takes place. This paper clearly describes the consequences of childhood sexual abuse and provides descriptions of some efforts to treat it that have been successful.