Factors Responsible For Sexual Abuse As Expressed By Students Of Federal College Of Education, Osiele Abeokuta, Nigeria

Helping youths explore past abuse is specialized work requiring significant education, training and expertise. The following key principles provides guidance for those working with youth who have been sexually abused according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service administration for children and families (1998) and these include:
Remain Neutral in your early interaction with Abuse Victims: When some youth sense that a therapist or other professional is paying attention to or trying to help them, they may withdraw because the circumstances feel risky to them. The very nature of counseling or therapy, which involves personal contact with another human being and focused, positive attention, can produce stress and anxiety for children who have been sexually abused. Youth who have been sexually abused also may associate nice behaviour with seduction. In the past, people where nice to them when they wanted something, they may wonder what therapists or other adult expect from the, in return for their help.
Assist Youth in Understanding: That they are not to Blame
    Typically, left to their own resources children make incorrect assumptions about what they were abused or neglected. When 100 youth in Sanfraicisco were asked why they were in the foster care system, 98 of them said “Because I am bad”. And young people’s behaviour often reflects how they feel about themselves. If they think they are bad, they may act in ways that perpetuate that image.
Be Non-Judgemental: Youth do not respond well to adults who want to tell them what to do or who are constantly critical.
Catch Youth Doing Something Good:  Focus on telling young people what they are doing that is good when they make a thoughtful.
Help them view their feeling without judgement: Feelings are no good or bad, they are just feelings. Help young people understand that it is all right to feel angry and help them to learn to express their anger in ways that are healthy for themselves and others.
Think of your interactions with young as “invitations” for the to do or say as much as little as they choose: Youth need to learn to male choices about how they will participate, or not, in different situations. Offering youth options give them a chance to practice making choices in a safe environment. If a young person does not complete an assignment, for example consider talking with him or her about what the assignment might have looked like if they had finished it, ort, discuss what might have been the biggest problem in completing the task. Through this process, you might accomplish more than if you focus on the young person’s failure to complete the task.
Avoid power struggles with Young People: Its generally non-productive to spend time or giving a point with an adolescent. Move on to other discussions that might prove more useful. Keep in mind that if a young person is feeling defensive, they are not feeling safe.
Remember that Abused Adolescents have a reason to be defensive: If you are hit enough emotionally or physically, you learn to stand ready to protect yourself or even toward off attacks by attacking first, young people who have been abused need time and a trusted relationship to feel safe.
Understand how easy it is for abused children to be further victimized: - Without question, once abused, children become more vulnerable to further victimization. It is not just the abuse that leaves them exposed to exploitation; it is the concomitant loss of love, nurturing and feelings of being safe and valued. Often adult predators provide, at least, the very things missing from an abused child’s history; time attention, caring and a sense of belonging.
Be aware that some behaviour provide youth with a sense of Control: - When children are treated well, nurtured, loved, and accepted, they learn to accept that treatment from others. When children are abused, they similarly except others will abuse them. These children may engage in aggressive behavior as a defence mechanism, their behaviour is a means of taking control of a situation they anticipate will occur anyway. When you work with youth to stop behaviours that place them at risk, it is important to be aware that those behaviours may be the only current means they have for mastery and control. Help educate others that young people are never responsible for their abuse: - Often, people suggest that adolescent should have told someone or fought back. The expectation is that adolescents should be able to protect themselves. If is importance to remember that many young people have long histories of abuse, which makes them vulnerable: they are not a “normal (none abused) adolescents suddenly confronted with dangerous circumstances. Moreover, it is critical to remember that children are relating to their parents, the people they love and need most in the world. When asked, “Who are bad, you or your Mum and Da”. Children will always choose themselves. Children need to protect the idealized image of their parents; those are the people they long for. Working with youth who have been sexually abused obviously requires special skills and expertise. For that reason, most youth agencies develop strong working relationships with therapists who have experienced in working with youth who have been sexually abused. In selecting a therapist, youth agencies should look for well-trained professionals who understand and apply the above mentioned principles. They are should look for therapists who do the following:
-    Use therapeutic approaches other than talk therapy: Direct-talk therapy generally is not the most effective approach with adolescents. Well-trained therapist will use art or play therapy in working with abused youth. They also might discuss news chippings or watch a video and let youth comment on another young person’s situation. It may be easier for youth to talk about another person as a means of sharing how they feel. Moreover, helping young people develop empathy for others often can be the first step in developing self-empathy.