Welcome to Project Angel

Project Angel is a clinical sourceguide to recognizing and understanding the emotional and psychological effects and manifestations of child sexual abuse.

Our goal is to educate clinical researchers and the layperson alike about the underlying psychological trauma associated with child sexual abuse and encourage those who have been abused to speak out and seek help. Too often our society victimizes the abused and ignores or minimizes their stories. The stigmatization from society and peers can often cause as much emotional and psychological trauma as the abuse itself. It is important to recognize that the abused child is always innocent, regardless of the circumstances, and all such children need a voice and an arena in which they can find comfort and compassion.

The damaging effects of child sexual abuse cannot be overestimated. No child is psychologically prepared to cope with sexual abuse. Most survivors experience any of a wide range of psychological and social dysfunctions, including severe depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, alienation, anxiety and grief. Most survivors will at one time or another experience emotional numbing, flashbacks, displaced rage, pseudo-maturity symptoms, suicide attempts and general social and sexual dysfunction. Many survivors struggle with self-abuse and self-mutilation, eating disorders, poor relationship skills, incomplete or arrested educations and poor employment records.

Accurate numbers are unknown since it is believed that many survivors never report abuse. Approximately 80,000 cases of child sexual abuse are reported every year. The legal procedure for validating reports of child sexual abuse is also problematic. Most states allow child welfare agencies to handle reports of abuse by family members while police are only involved if the abuser is a non-relative. This probably accounts for the relatively few arrests in cases of abuse by family members.

The abuser can just as easily be a family member as a non-relative. Parents, step-parents, uncles, aunts, siblings or other relatives have been known as abusers. Friends, teachers, neighbors, child-care professionals and clergy are often non-relative abusers. The abuser can even be unknown to the child, although this is less likely. The abuser is known by the child in 8 out of 10 reported cases.

Children who know and care for the abuser often become trapped between affection or loyalty and the instinctive sense that the sexual abuse is very wrong. If the child attempts to halt the sexual abuse, the abuser often will threaten the child with loss of love or violence. When the abuser is a family member the child will often fear any jealously, anger or shame directed from other family members. There is often also a great fear that the family unit will be torn apart if the child tells the secret. When and if the child does finally report the sexual abuse it is often not taken seriously. Disbelief is a common reaction from adults upon learning of child sexual abuse at the hands of someone they know and trust. If the initial plea for help is ignored the abused child will not likely ever report the abuse again. Ignoring a child’s report of sexual abuse can sentence the child to many years of further abuse. Many survivors do not report the child sexual abuse until they are adults and the abuse has long since ceased.

When a child does report sexual abuse it is of paramount importance to show no anger in the presence of the child. Most adults will experience a great deal of anger upon learning that their child has been sexually abused. The child who witnesses this anger will most likely think it is directed at them and it will often bring to the surface feelings of anger directed at the child by the abuser. The child must be assured that the abuse is not their fault. Most abused children are physically and psychologically debilitated by feelings of guilt and self-hatred. Any adult who is told of the abuse should show a great deal of love and comfort to the child. Reassure them that they are not at fault for anything that happened. Let them know how brave they were to report the abuse, especially if the abuser is a family member or trusted friend.

The first step for the adult when a child has reported sexual abuse is to comfort and reassure the child. Seeking counseling and therapy for the abused child is far more important than vengeance for the abuser. Make sure the child receives medical treatment if necessary, followed by psychological therapy. Treating the child is the primary concern. The final step is punishing the abuser. The legal process can be difficult and may take years. The abuser may never be adequately prosecuted or receive any therapy themselves. The primary concern of the adult should always be for the child. The child’s well-being and subsequent development is what matters.

Every survivor should seek professional help and assistance. If the abuse is ongoing, we strongly urge contact of local authorities or any trusted adult. Survivors of past abuse are strongly urged to seek psychological counseling and therapy. Every state has government-subsidized organizations that can locate and accommodate treatment and assistance. Local clergy, parents, physicians, and even friends can be of great comfort. Survivors should never be ashamed of past abuse.





All content © 2002-2006 Project Angel, LLP.