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Home: Survivors: Incest & Child Abuse: It happened to me

All of the survivors had sought and received formal assistance or support. The value of the assistance varied considerably. The general view was that what was most valuable at a particular time depends where the individual was in the process of recovery from sexual abuse.

Counselling by professionals who had no specialist knowledge of sexual abuse was considered of limited value: the counsellors often reflected the myths and misconceptions held by the general community. The survivors reported difficulties in finding an appropriate counsellor and often there was considerable expense involved with using private counsellors. The specialist Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs) were viewed very favourably, although despite their capacity to offer long-term counselling were believed by some, not to.

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