The lived experience of professionals working with children who were subjected to abuse

Abstract

Practitioners in the human field, are often exposed to traumatic experiences through their clients. This research aims to provide a qualitative phenomenological account of the lived experiences of psychologists, psychotherapists and counsellors in the context of working therapeutically with children who have experienced abuse. Recruitment was conducted through local organisations which represent qualified practitioners in the field. The sample consisted of 6 professionals, namely psychologists and psychotherapists ranging from 30-50 years old. Four superordinate themes emerged from this study including: (a) receiving referrals pertaining to childhood abuse, (b) working with child abuse, (c) becoming deeply involved, and (d) the impact of working with childhood abuse on the professional. These were then discussed in light of existing literature. Salient findings portrayed the circumstances of referrals encountered by the participants, the negative and positive impacts of this work, and the means through which these professionals prevent and lessen the possibility of over-involvement and the mental health implications that accompany it.