Childhood Sexual Abuse

This chapter provides an overview of the international epidemic of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). The short- and long-term adverse outcomes associated with CSA will be examined. This will include exploring the interpersonal betrayal inherent in CSA. The processes of sexual grooming and disclosure of CSA will also be discussed. The devaluing act of victim blaming, whereby victims of CSA are viewed as being responsible for their abuse, will be discussed. Treatment trends for addressing the deleterious outcomes associated with CSA will be presented. Finally, key takeaways will be outlined.