Counseling Guidelines and Best Practices

Child sexual abuse is unfortunately prevalent worldwide. It includes attempts at sexual activity without consent with individuals less than 18 years of age. Counseling is a process of providing guidance and assurance to and improving the confidence levels of the client through interaction. Counseling takes place between a counselor and a client. In cases of child sexual abuse, counseling will assess the physical and psychological state of the abused child, which, if not addressed at right time may lead to hasty decisions. In incidents of severe abuse, counseling can strengthen the physical and mental states of the abused child. Counseling can be given to society, to an abused child, to family members of the abused one, to the abuser, and to family members of the abuser. Educating perpetrators and others about child abuse laws may alter the mindset of some wicked people. Collective efforts will definitely decrease the incidence of child sexual abuse in India. In some families there may be obstacles to counseling that can be overcome with the help of professionals. This chapter focuses mainly on the importance of counseling in child sexual abuse cases and the guidelines to be followed in counseling different clients involved.