Enhancement of Psychological Services for Sexually Abused Women and Children in Residential Facility
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20229643Keywords:
sexual abuse, survivors, psychological services, residential care/facility, qualitative research, policy enhancement inputsAbstract
Sexual abuse is a serious violation of human dignity and remains a critical social and public health concern affecting women and children across diverse contexts. Survivors are often placed in residential care facilities due to unsafe home environments or the absence of immediate support systems. While these institutions aim to provide rehabilitation and healing, the delivery of psychological services within the residential care settings remains complex and insufficiently examined. This study aimed to enhance the psychological services provided to sexually abused women and children in residential care. Using qualitative research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. Findings indicate that service providers describe psychological services as structured and systematic approach, emotionally attuned support, collaborative care and motivational, while also constrained by limited resources. While survivors describe it as structured testing services, feeling safe and supported, with group support and collective healing, creative engagement and limited by schedule of staff. Across both perspectives, service effectiveness was reflected in themes of physical and emotional safety, clear process but uneven effectiveness, transformative with self-development, sharing of power and empowerment with self-determination. While the findings are limited to small sample size and reliance on participants’ subjective accounts, this study provides rich, context-specific insights into experiences and service delivery. The findings highlight strengths alongside critical gaps in psychological assessment, counseling and group interventions. A policy enhancement input is proposed to strengthen institutional responsibility for ethical psychological practice and workforce sufficiency to ensure sustainable psychological care in residential facilities.
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