Exploring male childhood sexual abuse survivors' experiences of specialist counselling services
Date
2022
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Publisher
Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
Abstract
Global estimates suggest 5% to 10% of men report experience of childhood sexual
abuse (CSA). However, male CSA is significantly underreported, with men being reluctant to disclose due to vulnerability, stigmatisation, homophobic responses and
fearing a loss of masculinity. A lack of research and service provision targeted towards
men suggests male survivors of CSA are marginalised. This qualitative study, using
a narrative approach, focussed on four adult male survivors of CSA. The aim of the
study was to explore their experiences of engaging in counselling and support services for CSA from nonstatutory and voluntary organisations. Face-to-face narrative
interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis was undertaken
using a two-phase approach; first, each narrative was analysed as a whole; second, an
across-transcripts analysis was carried out to identify shared themes and divergences
that emerged from the individual stories. In this paper, findings from the second phase
of the analysis are presented. Three themes regarding male survivors' experiences of
specialist counselling services were identified: “Trust Me, I'm a Doctor,” “Trust me, I'm
a Counsellor” and “Counsellor or Mother?” This is the first academic study focussing
specifically on men's experience of support for CSA in the UK from a service user perspective. Making an original contribution to the knowledge base regarding counselling
experiences and the effectiveness of therapy for male CSA survivors, it will help to
inform professional counselling services which are likely to come into contact with
male survivors of CSA.
Description
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, male survivors, narrative, counseling
Citation
Viliardos, L., McAndrew, S., & Murphy, N. (2022). Exploring male childhood sexual abuse survivors' experiences of specialist counselling services. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. DOI: 10.1002/capr.12596