 | Joyce A. Thompson is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT). She owns Emotional Journey, LLC, which is a group, private practice made up of both male and females and which is located in Wichita, Kansas. We offer a full range of services including ‘talk’ therapy, sand tray therapy and therapeutic massage which all address the mind/body connection. We specialize in working with individuals (from tot to elderly), couples, families, and groups on a wide variety of issues. We also speak to groups or organizations on a variety of topics and offer chair massage at your business or group event. Emotional Journey, LLC is a member of many organizations, including The Wichita Chamber of Commerce, The Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Independent Business Association, and The Better Business Bureau. You may learn more by going to our web site: www.emotionaljourney.org, by telephone at (316) 295-4758, or through email: therapists@emotionaljourney.org. |
Health & Wellness
2008-05-01 13:20:00
What defines child abuse?
Question: I have read two of your recent articles regarding childhood abuse and the benefits of attending a support group for women wishing to recover from childhood abuse. Even though I had a difficult childhood, I’m not for sure if it would qualify as ‘abuse’. Could you please offer some more information on what exactly constitutes childhood abuse?
Answer: I’d be happy to do so. The Child Welfare Information Gateway(http:www.childwelfare.govsystemwidelaws_policies/statutes/define.cfm) describes child abuse and neglect as being “defined by Federal and State laws.” The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) is the Federal legislation that provides minimum standards that States must incorporate in their statutory definitions of child abuse and neglect. The CAPTA definition of “child abuse and neglect” refers to: “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker, which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm”.
This web site goes on to explain the “CAPTA” definition of “sexual abuse” includes: “The employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct; or The rape, and in cases of caretaker or inter familial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children”.
“Sexual exploitation is an element of the definition of sexual abuse in most jurisdictions. Sexual exploitation includes allowing the child to engage in prostitution or in the production of child pornography”.
This web site does a good job of describing other types of childhood abuse. The type and a description of each are listed below:
Physical Abuse “is generally defined as any non accidental physical injury to the child”. This “can include striking, kicking, burning, or biting the child, or any action that results in a physical impairment of the child”. It also “includes acts or circumstances that threaten the child with harm or create a substantial risk of harm to the child’s health or welfare”.
Neglect “is frequently defined in terms of deprivation of adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or supervision. Approximately 21 States and American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands include failure to educate the child as required by law in their definition of neglect. Seven States further define medical neglect as failing to provide any special medical treatment or mental health care needed by the child. In addition, four States define as medical neglect the withholding of medical treatment or nutrition from disabled infants with life-threatening conditions”.
Emotional abuse is described as “injury to the psychological capacity or emotional stability of the child as evidenced by an observable or substantial change in behavior, emotional response, or cognition,” or as evidenced by “anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or aggressive behavior.”
Parental substance abuse is “Prenatal exposure of a child to harm due to the mother’s use of an illegal drug or other substance”, “Manufacture of a controlled substance in the presence of a child or on the premises occupied by a child”, “Allowing a child to be present where the chemicals or equipment for the manufacture of controlled substances are used or stored”, “Selling, distributing, or giving drugs or alcohol to a child”, and the “Use of a controlled substance by a caregiver that impairs the caregiver’s ability to adequately care for the child”.
Child abandonment is also a form of abuse or neglect in numerous states. “In general, it is considered abandonment of the child when the parent’s identity or whereabouts are unknown, the child has been left by the parent in circumstances in which the child suffers serious harm, or the parent has failed to maintain contact with the child or to provide reasonable support for a specified period of time”.
After having read each of these descriptions, ask yourself the following questions. Did any of these things happen to me? Were you told, or did you have a gut feeling that you needed “to keep the secrets” from outsiders? Did you feel alone or isolated from others on a regular basis? Did you feel that nobody really cared about you? If you answered yes to these questions, ask yourself if you sometimes now feel empty, depressed, numb, or anxious for no apparent reason? Do you have nightmares on a regular basis which make no sense to you? Do you sometimes feel panicked for no obvious reason? If so, you possibly did endure childhood abuse. If you have questions or would like further information, please feel free to give Joyce a call. Joyce would be happy to discuss this with you at greater length to determine if you might benefit from a therapy group for female survivors of childhood abuse.
