Many American women who were sexually abused as children seek
mental health services to help them heal from their abuse. An
appreciation of the varied sources of trauma that may stem from a
sexual abuse experience may guide clinicians in facilitating a
meaningful discussion with survivors of the ways in which their
childhood development and their current lives have been influenced by
their sexual abuse. Therefore, the goal of this study was to provide a
beginning delineation of possible sources of trauma in the abuse
situation, based on the retrospective reflections of women who have
survived abuse. One hundred and eighty-six survivors were asked to
identify the most traumatic aspects of their abuse experience. A
content analysis was performed on their written responses, and the
following eight categories, reflecting different sources of trauma,
were identified: abandonment, powerlessness, violence, betrayal, guilt
and shame, loss of self, loss of childhood, and impact on sexual
adjustment. Possible treatment implications and suggestions for future
research are discussed.