In addition to programs aimed at prevention of child sexual abuse, Dil Se also offers the space to heal from the trauma of the abuse.
The aim is to help children move from being a victim to surviving and then thriving.
This is a process that takes time, and moves through several phases:
Phase 1 - Acknowledgment: Acknowledging the abuse is the first step in the process of healing. The child and the family need to accept that what happened was abuse – and need to hear and accept that the abuse was not the child’s fault. It is also important to validate the child’s feelings – and not minimize the experience (e.g. by saying something like “It was only being shown nude photographs, and not a sexual act”)
Phase 2 - Establishing safety and building a sense of competency: Safety can be external – ensuring that that abuser does not have access to the child; and it can also be internal – helping the child deal with and manage their emotions, self care and awareness of personal safety. Building on self esteem and a sense of feeling competent are the other aspects of this phase.
This phase is an ongoing one – and should be supported by the adults in the child’s life – at home, at school, and in the community.
Phase 3 - Processing the trauma: The work of processing the trauma uses various techniques – play therapy, art based therapy, somatic experiencing, brain-spotting and using a client centered approach. It is not important to know the details of what happened – the focus is on the effect the incident has had on the child – and to validate and work through this. This process takes time, and the child needs to know that the journey may not be easy, but the therapist is with them all the way.
Phase 4 - Transition beyond the trauma: The final phase is helping the child and the family to move beyond the trauma and focus on normal developmental tasks – attending school regularly, being with friends, developing hobbies, and making plans for the future.
The child and the family are able to accept that the abuse is an incident in their lives – it does not define who the child is.
Through the process of therapy we at Dil Se make sure that the child feels safe, is not re-traumatized and feels accepted and respected.