We interviewed 10 Christian women to determine how they found healing from childhood sexual abuse

What is it about?

This study involved interviewing 10 women who had a history of childhood sexual abuse and ended up completing a Christian based residential treatment center for substance abuse. In addition to addictions, eating disorders and a variety of other mental health symptoms were reported. The researchers wanted to know if there was a unique process to recovery for these women who chose this treatment protocol. Participants described what had changed and made them feel they had achieved some measure of recovery. They identified changes in personal relationships, a change from a very negative view of themselves to a more positive one, positive changes in how they related to God, and identified forgiveness as a key part of all the changes they described.

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Why is it important?

Many people do not find successful treatment for both addictions and underlying trauma or other mental health symptoms. Integrating spirituality into treatment protocols may be one way to help address recovery holistically.