Identifying suicidal ideation and lethality is critical in crisis intervention and counseling. It is also essential to report and find these individuals the needed help. Crisis Counselors sometimes deal with individuals on the scene who are suicidal or deal with individuals in short term care facilities that may express it. Counselors in general also need to be aware of clients who may be expressing lethal intentions. This video reviews the keys to assessing lethatlity
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program by clicking here
The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in crisis counseling.
This video reviews short term and acute crisis care with long term counseling. Crisis Counseling deals with more immediate issues while long term counseling deals with long term therapy and growth and healing. Understanding the difference in these types of counseling and helping arts is important skills for counselors. The needs of a person in crisis are far different than the needs of a person undergoing healing and growth. In many ways, it is like a ER doctor performing emergency surgery while other doctors work on rehab and healing.
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. Please also review AIHCP’s multiple other behavioral health programs as well!
A lousy day here, a sleepless night there—some changes in your attitude or behavior can appear little at first—but these little signals might occasionally indicate the beginning of more serious mental health problems. Identifying these early warning signals can help to address issues before they become more serious. Not only for yourself but also for everyone around you; knowing what to look for is vital.
Understanding the Weight of Unexplained Emotional Shifts
If you have seen inexplicable or protracted shifts in your emotional state, this might be the first indication of mental health problems. Without a clear reason, you might experience greater than-normal irritability, anxiety, or depression. These emotional changes could surprise you and make it hard to remember when or why they started. They are sometimes written off as transient stress, but if they continue, they demand more careful consideration.
Whether physical, psychological, or environmental, emotions are your body’s means of alerting you to something not quite right. Extended depression, for example, maybe more than simply a passing storm. Likewise, an explosion of irritation or rage might point to underlying tensions you have not fully addressed. Watch these changes and think about recording your emotions. Patterns may show up over time that would enable you to determine whether these changes fit a more general mental health issue.
Identifying Disruptions in Sleep and Energy Levels
Among the most important signs of your mental health is sleep. Underlying problems might be found in struggling to fall asleep, frequent awakening, or tiredness even after a full night’s sleep. Conversely, sleeping too much or depending on naps to get through the day might also be indicators that your mental health isn’t where it should be.
Your sleep habits usually mirror your preoccupation or overwhelm you with thoughts. While melancholy might leave you feeling exhausted and sluggish, anxiety could keep you up with racing ideas. Track any notable changes to your sleep schedule as well as your daily energy level. Often, a warning flag indicating your mental health needs care is feeling constantly tired despite a healthy diet and enough sleep.
Recognizing Withdrawal from Social Activities
One often disregarded early warning of mental health problems is social disengagement. If you find yourself avoiding phone calls, postponing activities, or dreading meetings with friends or family, this might point beyond simply a need for alone time. Often accompanying emotions of depression, worry, or worthlessness is isolation.
The difficult aspect of social disengagement is that it could make sense right at the time. Over time, these justifications—that you’re just too busy or that you’ll hook up with pals later—can start to show up often. Emotional support depends on maintaining relationships with people, so early identification and correction of this inclination helps avoid more severe problems like sadness or loneliness.
Monitoring Changes in Appetite and Physical Health
Your body and mind are close. Hence, mental health problems may show up as physical ones. Your hunger may be among the most obvious changes. Without noticing it, you can be eating either much more or less than normal. Your relationship with food can be influenced by stress, worry, and depression, either by stifling your appetite or by causing emotional eating.
Early warning signals might also be physical changes such as regular headaches, gastrointestinal issues, or inexplicable aches and pains. Though at first, they seem unrelated to mental health, these symptoms are commonly your body’s response to psychological stress. Please pay close attention to any ongoing medical problems and think about how they fit changes in your mental or emotional condition.
Evaluating Your Ability to Concentrate and Stay Motivated
Often making it more difficult to concentrate, solve difficulties, or stay motivated, mental health problems can have a major effect on your cognitive capacity. If you find yourself often forgetting things or if chores that used to feel simple suddenly seem daunting, these might be indicators of a more serious problem. Particularly stress and worry are well documented to disrupt focus and output. If you’re struggling, seeking support through mental health telehealth services can provide convenient access to professional help, making it easier to address these challenges and regain control over your well-being.
Often feeding emotions of dissatisfaction or self-doubt, this lack of attention fuels a cycle difficult to interrupt. Early recognition can enable you to put plans for management into action, including dividing chores into smaller, more doable chunks or using mindfulness practices to stay present. Head-on addressing cognitive changes helps to stop them from ballooning into more serious problems.
Losing Interest in Activities You Once Enjoyed
Dealing with mental health issues can affect nearly every aspect of your life. It often causes a noticeable shift in the way you experience activities that you used to enjoy. This is called anhedonia, a symptom of depression. It can leave you with a sense of emptiness, where the activities that used to bring happiness no longer hold the same appeal or satisfaction. This creates a vicious cycle: the more you pull away from the things you once loved, the more isolated and disconnected you can feel.
These symptoms further feed anxiety and other discomfort. It can make it difficult to feel fully present as a result. The disconnection can feel like an identity shift, where you begin to lose touch with who you were before and lose your sense of purpose in life. This sense of loss in purpose and drive is difficult to navigate but understanding that it’s a symptom of your mental health struggle is an important step toward recovery as it is not permanent as it may seem.
Conclusion
Early warning of mental health problems calls for self-awareness and a readiness to pay attention to your body and mind. You are positioning yourself for improved mental health and well-being by seeing these indicators and acting early to solve them. Remember that giving your mental health top priority is among the finest investments you can make in yourself; trust your intuition and ask for help when necessary.
Author Bio
Hi, my name is Halley Jones. I’m a freelance content writer and guest author with a passion for crafting engaging and informative articles on a variety of topics. I have 5 years of experience in the industry and know how to create content that resonates with readers. In my spare time, you can find me hiking, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, or curled up with a good book.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification
Latino/a Americans face unique challenges. Many face discrimination but also labels of invader or migrant. Many also find themselves without social support systems. In addition, the culture has unique perspectives on spirituality, family and loss that can be important factors in the grieving process. Grief Counselors can help only if they have multicultural understandings of unique population bases.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professional seeking a four year certification as a grief counselor.
Grief counselors need to have an understanding of Asian culture to better assist grieving Asian Americans with their unique challenges and losses they face. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification by clicking here
African Americans have unique struggles and losses from personal to collective issues regarding grief and social stressors. With collective soul wounds originating with the slave trade to prejudices and discrimination throughout history, they face issues that grief counselors must be able to address. When non-African American counselors work within the African American community they need to be aware of these differences and issues
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification.
Helping migrants adjust and adapt to new homes is a difficult process. Many face unique challenges, different griefs and losses, as well as numerous prejudices awaiting them. Grief counselors need to have a general understanding of the nature and mindset of the migrant and the psychological issues that come with it during migrant counseling. This video takes into account numerous issues and problems migrants face and how to better help them in counseling. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
This video reviews the nature of crisis intervention from a pastoral perspective. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Program as well as AIHCP’s Christian Counseling, Grief Counseling, Pastoral Thanatology and Stress Management Programs. All programs are online and independent study with mentorship as needed for qualified professionals seeking a four year certification
Hoarding is associated with OCD but can also be tied to anxiety and depression. Please review AIHCP’s multiple behavioral health certifications for qualified professionals
Hoarding is a problem that is often not well understood and carries a lot of stigma. It creates significant difficulties for people who experience its negative effects. It involves keeping too many possessions and not being able to throw things away, which can hinder one’s daily life and relationships. As society tries to understand this behavior better, it is important to look into counseling methods that can help those who are affected by hoarding. This initial discussion aims to place hoarding in a wider psychological picture, emphasizing the need to grasp its root causes, such as anxiety and past trauma. Additionally, it will highlight the essential role of mental health professionals in aiding recovery and encouraging better decision-making habits. In the end, by examining the details of hoarding and its treatment, this essay intends to shed light on recovery options for those impacted and promote increased understanding in society.
AIHCP offers a variety of mental health counseling certifications as well. While clinical counselors deal with such pathologies as hoarding, many non clinical and clinical counselors alike earn certifications in grief counseling, crisis counseling, anger management and stress management that can offer skills to deal with issues that exist within larger mental pathologies.
A. Definition of hoarding disorder
Hoarding disorder is marked by trouble when it comes to throwing away or giving up items, which results in the buildup of belongings that crowd living areas and interfere with regular use. This disorder is not just a habit of collecting; it shows deeper psychological problems often tied to anxiety and difficulty making decisions. People with hoarding disorder might view their belongings as having personal value or be afraid that getting rid of items could lead to missed chances or regrets. As a result, this behavior may cause significant stress and hinder social, work, or other areas of life. Moreover, hoarding can impact families and communities, illustrated by cases of animal hoarding where the neglect of pets often reflects the seriousness of the disorder. It is crucial to understand the complex nature of hoarding disorder to create effective counseling methods that can ease the related symptoms and enhance the quality of life for those affected (Lee et al., 2017)(Lee et al., 2017).
B. Prevalence and impact on individuals and families
Hoarding disorder is a big problem for both people and their families, causing a mix of emotional, social, and money-related issues. Studies show that around 2-6% of people have hoarding issues, which can lead to a lot of distress and problems with everyday life (cite3). People with hoarding disorder usually live in worsening conditions, have troubled relationships, and feel more shame and isolation. Families have a hard time dealing with the physical and mental effects of their loved ones’ actions, such as intervention fatigue and a greater burden on caregivers. Plus, the financial effects can be serious, involving costs for cleaning, health emergencies, and property damage (cite4). Understanding these various effects is important for counselors who want to give good support, as they need to focus on not just the individual symptoms but also the larger family dynamics that play a role in hoarding situations.
C. Importance of effective counseling strategies
Good counseling methods are very important for dealing with the problems that come with hoarding disorders, as they greatly affect how well treatment works for those who are affected. A clear understanding of the psychological reasons behind hoarding is crucial for counselors so that they can work well with clients and promote real change. For example, new therapy methods that include cognitive-behavioral techniques can help clients question the thoughts and feelings that lead to their compulsive actions. Also, since hoarding is complicated, treatments need to be customized for each person’s situation, making sure that the strategies fit with each client’s specific experiences and needs (Cardenas et al., 2009). Importantly, the effects of hoarding go beyond just the person, affecting families and communities, which highlights why counselors need to also look at relationships and social issues (Lee et al., 2017). By using effective counseling methods, practitioners can help clients grow personally and also support the well-being of the wider community.
II. Understanding Hoarding Disorder
Hoarding disorder is more and more seen as a complicated mental health problem. It is marked by ongoing trouble getting rid of things, leading to a mess that interferes with living spaces and greatly affects daily activities. To understand this disorder well, one needs to take a multi-part view that includes psychological, emotional, and social aspects. Studies show that hoarding often happens along with other mental health issues, making treatment more difficult and highlighting the need for specific therapy plans (cite8). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been found to be a helpful treatment, showing it can adjust to meet the special needs of people who hoard (cite7). This adaptability lets therapists use particular methods that focus on mistaken beliefs about belongings, leading to better treatment results. As understanding of hoarding disorder increases, it is vital to push for better mental health services and support systems that recognize the complex lives of those affected.
Counselors need to understand the basic drives that produce hoarding in order to better assist their clients
A. Psychological factors contributing to hoarding
Understanding the mental reasons for hoarding behavior is important for helping those with this problem. People who hoard often have issues like anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and strong emotional ties to their belongings, which they use to deal with feelings of loss or low self-worth. Studies show that many hoarders go through bad life events or ongoing stress that can make their need to gather and keep things worse (Lee et al., 2017). Also, they often struggle to throw things away due to thinking errors, such as placing too much value on their items and irrational fears of not having enough in the future, which makes it hard for them to make decisions. Therefore, tackling these mental issues through therapy can help develop better ways to cope and enhance overall well-being. By understanding these connections, counselors can adjust their methods to better assist clients dealing with the difficulties of hoarding (Lee et al., 2017).
B. The role of trauma and life experiences
Knowing how trauma and life experiences play a role is important when helping people with hoarding disorders, as these issues often help create and keep up the condition. Many people who hoard have faced major life stressors like loss, abuse, or other traumatic situations, leading to feelings of powerlessness and an incorrect desire for control through possessions. Research shows that effective therapies, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can tackle the emotional roots of hoarding by looking at these traumatic events and changing how clients view their items (Hajjali et al., 2021). Additionally, a complete approach that checks the mental health services these individuals use is needed to better customize treatment options, which can improve recovery results (Cardenas et al., 2009). Thus, recognizing trauma and life experiences is crucial in developing a well-rounded counseling plan for those dealing with hoarding.
C. Co-occurring mental health conditions
Hoarding behavior is complicated by other mental health issues like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and depression. Studies show that people with these issues often have similar symptoms, making it harder to diagnose and treat them ((Moroney et al., 2017)). In the case of hoarding, the urge to collect items, along with the stress of throwing things away, can make feelings of hopelessness worse, increasing depressive symptoms. Also, hoarding disorders affect family members and the wider community, creating a cycle of problems that needs organized intervention ((Gail et al., 2022)). It is important to understand how hoarding and these other conditions interact in order to create effective counseling methods. By focusing on both the hoarding behaviors and the underlying mental health problems, counselors can create a more complete treatment plan that supports lasting recovery and a better quality of life for those involved.
III. Counseling Techniques for Hoarding
Counseling people who have hoarding issues needs a careful method that fits their special psychological and emotional situations. Compulsive hoarders often have strong emotional ties to their things, which makes therapy harder (cite16). Counselors must first build a connection that values the client’s caution—a normal way to protect themselves from more emotional pain, especially if they have faced trauma in the past (cite15). Using methods like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help clients confront unhelpful thoughts linked to their belongings. Slowly guiding clients to let go of items, along with teaching them about how hoarding affects their mental health and finances, can help them make real progress. In addition, including family members in the therapy can give important support and help create better choices about possessions, leading to a way to recovery.
CBT can play a role in helping individuals learn to overcome hoarding.
A. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) methods are very important for dealing with hoarding behaviors, which often show up as a hard time getting rid of items due to stress and strong emotional ties. A key part of CBT is figuring out and changing harmful beliefs about possessions, with therapy methods aiming to reshape these beliefs. For example, therapists might use exposure exercises to help clients slowly face anxious situations related to getting rid of things, helping them get used to the distress involved. Research shows that mixing exposure and response prevention strategies can improve treatment results, especially for those who are not open to typical approaches ((Jones et al., 2014)). Additionally, it is important to have a good grasp of the psychological factors involved, like past trauma and compulsive actions, to customize the interventions ((Sarno et al., 2009)). In the end, using a structured CBT approach helps therapists to systematically tackle the challenges of hoarding, encouraging significant behavioral changes and better emotional health.
B. Motivational interviewing and its effectiveness
Motivational interviewing (MI) is being seen more and more as a good counseling method for helping with hoarding disorder, mainly because it focuses on the patient and encourages them to want to change. By creating a caring and non-judgmental space, MI steers clear of confrontational tactics that can increase resistance, which is often a big issue when treating hoarding behaviors. Studies show that MI can improve a client’s willingness to participate in treatment, letting them think about their personal values and goals tied to cleaning and organizing their homes. Additionally, MI has been used along with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to help people tackle issues like self-stigma and emotional bonds to their belongings, leading to better results. Serving as a pathway to more structured treatments, MI helps clients face the underlying mental health issues related to hoarding, pointing to a hopeful direction for effective therapy (Krafft et al., 2021). Therefore, adding MI into treatment plans provides a useful method for helping those struggling with hoarding make significant changes.
C. Family involvement in the counseling process
In counseling people who have hoarding issues, getting the family involved is an important part of the therapeutic process. Involving family members not only gives emotional support to the hoarder but also helps everyone understand the psychological reasons behind the behavior better. Family can share important information about the hoarder’s background and relationships, which helps the counselor’s method. Also, as mentioned, working together can create a more lasting effect, lowering the chances that hoarding behaviors will return, which often goes over 100% without help ((Lee et al., 2017)). Good therapy includes teaching families about hoarding so that they can notice symptoms and stop behaviors that support the cycle. Overall, including family members leads to a broader approach, improving treatment outcomes and helping to create a supportive environment that honors the dignity and independence of the hoarder.
IV. Challenges in Counseling Hoarding Clients
Hoarders face a list of challenges in overcoming their pathological behavior
Helping people who hoard things has many special challenges that need a specific therapy method. Clients usually have strong feelings tied to their belongings, making therapy more difficult, as these feelings can cause a lot of stress when they are faced directly. Additionally, thinking errors, like putting too much value on items and being unable to decide what to throw away, often slow down the treatment process (cite23). The presence of other problems, like anxiety or depression, which often come with hoarding, can make these issues worse, so it’s important for counselors to use a varied treatment strategy. Techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have been helpful in dealing with these problems, helping clients change their thinking and slowly face their fears (cite24). In the end, effective counseling needs time, understanding, and a clear grasp of the inner psychological factors that lead to hoarding.
A. Resistance to change and denial
Resistance to change is a big problem in counseling people who have hoarding issues, often showing up as denial about how serious their situation is. Many individuals with hoarding behavior may seem defensive because they have a strong need to control their surroundings, which can block the therapy process. As practitioners in the field have pointed out, these patients often struggle to recognize how their compulsive actions affect them, making it hard to have real conversations about needed changes (Sarno et al., 2009). This resistance can get worse if there is a background of trauma or upsetting experiences, which can intensify feelings of vulnerability when facing the need to change. Research on motivation to change in similar disorders shows that less willingness to change is linked to greater symptom severity, highlighting the difficulties counselors encounter when dealing with denial and avoidance behaviors (Link et al., 2004). Therefore, it is important to create targeted interventions that acknowledge the emotional defenses of the patients while gradually encouraging their willingness to change, which is key for effective hoarding treatment.
B. Emotional attachment to possessions
The strong feelings people have for their belongings are often a main problem in therapy for those with hoarding issues. Many hoarders feel deep bonds with their things, seeing them as parts of who they are or as containers for important memories. This strong attachment makes it hard to let go, causing severe anxiety at the thought of getting rid of items, no matter how useful or valuable they are. Therapists are increasingly aware of the complex connection between emotional pain and compulsive collecting habits, as shown in research that emphasizes how past trauma, like childhood abuse, can strengthen these behaviors (Sarno et al., 2009). Since the emotional burden of possessions makes treatment more difficult, it is clear that interventions need to be customized to address these strong feelings (Cardenas et al., 2009). Therefore, effective therapy must include methods that gently challenge these attachments while helping individuals process their emotions in a healthier way.
C. Ethical considerations in intervention
Ethical issues in intervention are very important when dealing with hoarding, as counselors must manage the sensitive aspects of this behavior. Practitioners need to find a balance between respecting clients’ independence and their duty to protect safety and well-being, making therapy more difficult. Also, people who hoard are often vulnerable, so a caring approach that shows respect and empathy is essential and aligns with ethical principles in counseling standards (Baker et al., 2019). Moreover, sticking to updated CACREP standards is crucial because it emphasizes the need for extensive training on behavioral/process addictions, which helps counselors deal with the specific difficulties of hoarding effectively (Baker et al., 2019). By building a trusting relationship and understanding the complex aspects of hoarding, counselors can promote ethical interventions that empower clients and reduce risks, thus improving the overall effectiveness of treatment.
V. Conclusion
Hoarding causes numerous social and behavioral issues. Please also review AIHCP’s mental health certifications
To wrap up, tackling the tough problems faced by those with hoarding disorder requires a well-rounded method that combines psychological, social, and legal views. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has shown to be a useful treatment, proving it can be adjusted to meet the different needs of various clients, including those who have other disorders ((Hajjali et al., 2021)). These customized approaches not only strengthen the relationship between therapist and client but also encourage real changes in behavior. Moreover, the effects of hoarding go beyond the person, impacting families and neighborhoods, as seen in serious cases like animal hoarding, which causes great distress for both pets and their human owners ((Lee et al., 2017)). Therefore, thorough counseling plans should focus on teamwork among mental health experts, community support, and legal systems. By raising awareness and pushing for better handling of hoarding behaviors, we can ultimately aid in the recovery and support of both individuals and their communities.
A. Summary of key points discussed
When looking at the difficulties and methods related to helping people with hoarding problems, a few main ideas come up. First, it is important to know that hoarding is often linked to other mental health problems like anxiety and depression, which makes treatment harder. Good counseling needs a kind understanding of the feelings that lead to the excessive gathering of possessions and the deep distress that both the hoarder and their families feel. It is also important to work with community resources and legal systems since they can offer help during treatment. The challenges of animal hoarding show this need even more; these situations show the wide-ranging effects on both human and animal welfare, stressing the need for complete intervention methods ((Lee et al., 2017), (Lee et al., 2017)). In the end, effective counseling relies on a well-rounded method that mixes compassion with practical answers, seeking to promote lasting changes.
B. The importance of ongoing support and resources
Ongoing help and resources are important for managing hoarding disorder, as the problems linked to it usually go beyond the first treatment. People with hoarding issues need constant access to mental health support customized to their specific needs, especially since some standard treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) might not include important ideas like mindfulness and acceptance (Krafft et al., 2021). Studies show that self-help programs that use these techniques are beneficial, as they offer necessary support that enhances traditional therapy methods (Cardenas et al., 2009). Furthermore, ongoing help creates an atmosphere of accountability and helps lessen the stigma around getting help, which encourages continued participation in treatment. Research has shown that participants who made use of supportive resources had notable improvements, showing that a comprehensive approach that combines ongoing help with available resources is essential for achieving long-term recovery for those dealing with hoarding.
C. Future directions for research and practice in hoarding counseling
As hoarding behaviors become more recognized in mental health talks, future research and practice in hoarding counseling need to change to deal with the complicated nature of this issue. One good way forward is to mix different approaches that look at psychological, social, and environmental factors affecting hoarding. This may include teamwork among psychologists, social workers, and community groups to develop well-rounded intervention plans that not only center on personal therapy but also involve family dynamics and community help. In addition, studying the use of technology-assisted methods, like virtual reality exposure therapy, could boost engagement and offer new therapeutic options. Research that examines the lasting results of different treatment methods is important for finding the best practices. In the end, a complete plan that looks at personal motivations, societal views, and systemic obstacles will greatly enhance the counseling field for those facing hoarding challenges.
Please also review AIHCP’s Behavioral Health Certifications for healthcare and mental health professionals. The programs are online and independent study with mentorship as needed
References:
Hajjali, Zackary (2021). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Adaptations for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders: Training for Mental Health Counselors. https://core.ac.uk/download/401888899.pdf
Cardenas, Yadira, Lacson, Girlyanne Batac. (2009). The effectiveness of mental health services among individuals with hoarding syndrome. https://core.ac.uk/download/514714443.pdf
Krafft, Jennifer (2021). Testing an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Website for Hoarding: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial. https://core.ac.uk/download/478905934.pdf
A Bandura, A Kendurkar, A Pinto, AP Guerrero, AT Beck, AT Beck, AT Beck, et al. (2010). Correlates of Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder in a Sample of HIV-Positive, Methamphetamine-using Men Who have Sex with Men.
Poleshuck, Laura R (2013). Living at home with dementia: a client-centered program for people with dementia and their caregivers. https://open.bu.edu/bitstream/2144/11026/11/Poleshuck_Laura_2013_nosig.pdf
Gail, Leslie (2022). Factors Influencing Community Responses To Hoarding: Evaluating Operational Culture Of Hoarding Task Forces, Stigma, And Successful Outcomes. https://core.ac.uk/download/542556662.pdf
Sarno, Albert (2009). A Phenomenological Study of Clinicians Treating Traumagenic Compulsions Resulting from Childhood Sexual Abuse. https://core.ac.uk/download/58825952.pdf
Canale, Anthony, Klontz, Bradley (2013). Hoarding Disorder: It’s More Than Just an Obsession – Implications for Financial Therapists and Planners. https://core.ac.uk/download/267182955.pdf
Buchanan, Greg, Davison, Tanya, George, Kuruvilla, Hudgson, et al. (2007). An individualized psychosocial approach for “treatment resistant” behavioral symptoms of dementia among aged care residents. http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30007583
Jones, Heather M. (2014). Predicting Outcome at Posttreatment for Adolescent Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in a Residential Treatment Setting. https://core.ac.uk/download/217185460.pdf
One of the most heinous actions against another human being is sexual assault. Sexual assault is a broad term that can include rape but also any type of sexual activity that includes not only women, but also men and children. In all, sexual abuse, or rape involves any type of deliberate violation of another that incurs an invasion of the body by force without consent. It violates the persons privacy and inner space hence scarring the individual emotionally, mentally and physically due to this violation (James, 2017, p.242). There are many forms of rape, sexual battery and assault upon numerous different victims with different genders, orientations or ages. Sexual abuse or rape can be committed by a complete stranger, or by a partner, friend or family member. It can occur through force, drugging, or coercive means. It can be severely violent with physical resistance or without.
Sexual Assault victims undergo extreme trauma. Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Certification
Ultimately it is a violation of personhood and intimacy. It is a stealing of innocence and security. Due to this, in all cases, it causes different levels of trauma and crisis within the existence of the person. In this short blog, we will review some of the issues that result from sexual assault and how to help others through it.
There are many myths and fallacies surrounding sexual assault regarding its nature and the victims themselves. Such myths include that rape is merely rough sex, or that rape is a cry to avenge a man, or that rape is motivated by lust, or that rapists are loners and not everyday people, or that survivors provoke or asked for it, or that only bad women are raped, or that rapes only occur in certain bad areas of town. In addition, other fallacies include that men who are raped are willing victims due to their strength or position. Other myths blame only homosexuals as perpetrators of abuse upon young boys. Other fallacies include limiting male trauma to female trauma, that once a victim, one will become a future perpetrator, or if someone enjoyed pleasure during the sex of rape, then the person enjoyed it (James, 2017, p. 244-245). These fallacies can create many misconceptions about the nature of rape and how to help victims of rape. The reality is rape or sexual assault is a traumatic event that violates and invades a person. It can lead to a variety of traumas and when myths and fallacies circulate, it can cause intense grief for the victim.
Nature of the Rapist
Most rapes and sexual assaults obviously occur to women or children, but the nature and makeup can be attributed to anyone who seeks to sexually hurt another person. In case of usually men, the rapist or assailant performs hostile acts and is filled with anger. Many may feel mistreated, anxious or threatened and have issues with women. Many see women as inferior or submissive, and feel the need to display power over them. Many display poor interpersonal skills and also show sadistic patterns of behavior (James, 2017, p.242). Regardless of gender, those who victimize others in cases of sexual assault fall into four categories. The first is commit due to raw anger. The second commit due to power exploitation. The third commit to power reassurance and finally the fourth commit due to sadistic needs (James, 2017, p. 242).
Rapists, especially molesters, will utilize grooming techniques to find victims and entice them with rewards, only later to entrap them with manipulation to continue in the action by degrading them, blaming them, threatening them, or blackmailing them into secrecy. Blaming, shaming and disenfranchising the voice of the young person is key to the predation (James, 2017, p. 268).
The rapist or assailant can commit these crimes on a date, abduction, or even within a relationship. It be between a family member, spouse, friend or total stranger. All cases are a grave injustice to the autonomy of the other person and leaves great traumatic scars that require crisis care and long term counseling. The crimes against children are especially heinous and cry to heaven for justice. Fortunately, crisis specialists can play the role of angels on earth and try to help these victims.
Helping Sexual Assault Survivors
The initial impact stage of sexual assault and rape leaves the person within the first 2 weeks raw with emotion and maybe even physical pain from the assault. The person may be haunted by nightmares, flashbacks, dissociation, hypervigilance, or other reactions to acute stress (James, 2017, p. 248). These peritraumatic stress syndromes are natural for anyone who was involved in a severe trauma. They may gradually over time relax or persist into traumatic stress disorder or even PTSD (James, 2017. p. 250).
Among the many possible reactions, some may exhibit multiple emotions, while some may appear unaffected on in a state of shock. Some may wish to not discuss the event. Others may feel humiliated, demeaned or degraded without value. They may feel stigmatized, shamed or an extreme impaired self image. Some may blame themselves for the rape or assault. Others may have difficulty trusting others again. Some may become depressed or suicidal. Others may become extremely angry and seek revenge (James, 2017, p. 252).
Its important to help the victim find stability/safety and meaning after sexual assault
After 3 months, many will still need to continue medical care for physical issues as well as mental counseling. Some may have difficulty resuming or returning to work. Others may have a hard time resuming sexual relations. Some may also display mood swings and emotional outbursts. Others may continue to display nightmares, flashbacks and other symptoms of PTSD, as well as depression or suicidal ideation (James, 2017, p. 253). Children will show regression, odd behaviors, or acting out and if left untreated may deal with unresolved grief and trauma throughout life.
Counselors, as well as social support among friends and family can play key roles in healing. It is important for those around the victim to be understanding of the trauma and the damage it causes in regards to mood swings, emotional outbursts and the need to express anger. Friends and family need to be available and counselors need to show empathy and listening. In doing so, it means recognizing the hurt, the trauma, the self esteem issues, the lack of trust, the fears and triggers, as well as letting her make some decisions on her/him on his/her own to again feel autonomy (James, 2017, p. 254).
While those suffering from more traumatic reactions may require exposure treatments, affective regulation and cognitive therapies through licensed counselors, crisis specialists can help the victim feel safe and secure. The crisis specialist can reassure and help the person see solutions and answers to the problem and offer insight to their emotions. In these cases, helping individuals find grounding through breathing and relaxation techniques can be helpful. It can help an individual regain equilibrium. In addition, many will need help with grief and understanding loss. Grief resolution and meaning making will be essential as the person attempts to tie together this horrible event with one’s life story and finding meaning it. James points out that the two first tasks are clearly stabilization and finding meaning (2017. p. 266).
Many individuals may require support groups that share the similar trauma of sexual assault, as well as ways again to feel safe and regain autonomy. This can be through the help of others or through other ways of taking control, whether it be through self defense training, or weapons training. It may involve also finding closure through justice through the judicial system. Some may also look to find even deeper meanings by helping others. Many may form support groups or push forward into forming organizations or public awareness groups for sexual assault survivors.
Conclusion
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Program and see if it meets your professional goals
Sexual assault is one of the most disgusting and grievous offenses against another human being. It is broad and wide against numerous target populations according to orientation, gender and age but it usually involves power, anger and sadistic energy. Individuals suffer intense trauma by this violation and many feel a variety of emotions that can lead to various behavioral issues and future PTSD. Even for those who suffer the general trajectory still suffer emotionally, mentally and physically and must go through a process of stabilization meaning making and finding autonomy, safety and healing again.
Crisis Specialist play a big role in the initial phases of helping sexual assault victims find safety and ability to stabilize their emotions and mind after the assault. They then guide the victim to finding the necessary long term aids to help the person again find healing and wholeness.
Please also review AIHCP’s Crisis Intervention Specialist Certification. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in crisis counseling. The program is great for counselors, social workers, chaplains, as well as nurses, EMT and police and rescue.
Resource
James, R & Gilliland, B. (2017). “Crisis Intervention Strategies”. (8th). Cengage
Additional Resources
I am a victim of rape/sexual assault. What do I do? Access here
Legg, T. (2019). “Sexual Assault Resource Guide”. Healthline. Access here
Pappas, S. (2022). “How to support patients who have experienced sexual assault”. APA. Access here
Written by Halley Jones,
