| Abstract: | Reviews a number of attributional distinctions within the concepts of self-blame and helplessness that can be utilized in treatment planning for sexually abused children to make possible simultaneous reduction of guilt and powerlessness. Adaptive and maladaptive subtypes of self-blame and helplessness are separated, often based on their implications for past vs future control. Recommendations are presented for phrasing attributional interventions in language understandable to young children. The formulation is also applied to work on children's ambivalent feelings toward perpetrators and non-offending parents. The role of client education as a therapeutic technique is emphasized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
