Psychotherapy with Survivors of Sexual Violence: Inside and Outside the Room

By: Erene Hadjiioannou

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Synopsis: The role of psychotherapists in creating change for survivors of sexual violence can extend far wider than the rooms in which appointments are provided. Psychotherapy with Survivors of Sexual Violence aims to provide psychotherapists with practical guidance that will enable them to work with the prolific societal issue of sexual violence, both in the privacy of clinical practice and the wider world as activists. Erene Hadjiioannou outlines the components of relational psychotherapy necessary to counter the trauma that brings survivors to services, with a particular focus on empowerment and the freedoms that constitute it. The book defines the neurophysiological systems involved in surviving traumatic experiences and common psychological presentations, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Hadjiioannou explains the long-standing challenges of delivering psychotherapy to survivors who have reported to the police from various perspectives: understanding the criminal justice system, note-keeping, and survivors’ experiences of reporting. Barriers to accessing support, including myths, are examined and the book includes interview quotes from a range of survivors as well as fictional case studies throughout. Psychotherapy with Survivors of Sexual Violence will be a key text for psychotherapists of all backgrounds working with survivors, and for mental health professionals in training.