A National level Webinar on “Counselling the Survivors of Sexual Abuse” was Organised by Department of M.Sc Counselling, School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru on January 31st , 2022 through Google meet.
Dr Navyashree GC, Assistant Professor, Department of Post Graduate Studies and Research in Psychology, SDM College, Ujire, was the Resource person. There were 65 participants from the stream of Counselling, MPSW, Psychology from different cities in India.
After the formal address The resource person explored on what constitutes sexual abuse and what are its types and forms, myths that people attach to sexual abuse, as it causes. Dr Navya mentioned that not every survivor of sexual abuse needs counselling or therapy, but in most cases, sexual abuse can lead to severe psychological trauma and how it damages almost every aspect of a person’s development, including – Sexual, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual, Interpersonal and Psychological Development.
Dr Navya addressed that the aim of counselling is to help the Victim transform themselves into a Survivor, then a Thriver and eventually an Inspirer. On further note she educated on few basic information that needs to be collected from the victim with utmost caution and empathy, to understand how to help them better, Some of the major Counselling Skills And therapeutic knowledge a Counsellor needs to possess, to be able to help sexual abuse survivors.
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Dr Navya stressed that prevention is always better than cure, certain steps need to be taken to help prevent sexual abuse. Sexual education, Awareness about safe and unsafe touch and Educating stakeholders, such as parents, teachers and mental health workers, can go a long way in preventing sexual abuse and creating awareness against it and inspired the participants to take up this call.
This session provided great insight on how common sexual abuse is, how it can affect a person psychologically and what we, as mental health workers can do to help ease the pain and suffering that comes with it and maybe even support some people to use this terrible experience to bring about a change in the society.
