Sexual Abuse Counseling and Recovery
Does counseling really help survivors in their recovery from sexual abuse and domestic violence? Yes, it does. However, sexual abuse is a highly complex issue with many ramifications, and counseling requires highly specialized skills and insight to optimize recovery. According to a survey conducted by the American Association of Christian Counselors, Christian counseling is effective 96 percent of the time, while secular counseling is far less satisfactory. Our creator knows us and knows what it takes to resolve issues in our lives. We believe that when we stick to biblical principles and hold fast to God’s word, we will find the wisdom we seek.

Survivors of sexual abuse are effected in a myriad of ways that can have a dramatic affect on their lives and their relationships. In order for therapy to be effective, survivors must first be honest with themselves and ready to make a change in themselves and their lives. Many survivors of sexual abuse and other acts of violence feel shame and suffer from low self-esteem. They stay stuck in their situations because they start believing that they are not worthy and are somehow at fault for their abuse.

Dr. Karen McDonald provides professional, clinical counseling from a Christian perspective. As a survivor of severe abuse who personally had to do the work of recovery, Dr. McDonald is uniquely qualified to offer techniques of healing to others. Her style is low-key and compassionate. In a world that is quick to judge, she offers understanding and practical recovery techniques including psychoanalysis, behavior modification and cognitive behavioral therapy. With children, she uses art and play therapy. The goal of therapy is to help counselees process old hurts and buried feelings so that they can regain a sense of balance in their lives and find inner peace.

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse, contact our Atlanta Sexual Abuse Counseling and Recovery Experts today to begin your journey to emotional health. If you would like to make a donation to help women and children find hope and healing, please give us a call today.

According to the U.S. Department of Juvenile Justice, more than three million people in the United States are psychologically damaged each year as a result of sexual abuse and other acts of violence. Sexual abuse leaves a myriad of emotional scars on those who are affected. Although each case and each individual is different, survivors of sexual abuse often share many of the same traits. Survivors of sexual abuse often have issues with trust, and this can cause relationship issues as well as broken relationships. They have trouble having fun and often suffer from depression and anxiety. The depression and anxiety can lead to thoughts of suicide as well as actual suicide. Survivors of sexual abuse often live in extremes and have trouble keeping balance in their lives.

Promiscuity can also result from sexual abuse, and survivors may have trouble setting appropriate boundaries with others. In some cases, survivors of sexual abuse are driven into prostitution. Many survivors have trouble parenting their own children because they have never been exposed to a functional and loving model of parenthood. Many survivors of sexual abuse live with shame and guilt and blame themselves for their abuse. The emotional damage caused by sexual abuse can lead to psychosomatic illnesses such as ulcers, migraines and panic attacks. It can also lead to sleep disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, rage, fear and phobias, codependency, eating disorders and even  post – traumatic stress disorder. These are just some of the problems that can develop as a result of sexual abuse. There are many more.

When  children are abused, it can alter their brain development and leave them at risk for developmental problems such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and mental problems. Our bodies are wired with a complex, natural alarm system designed to protect us against threats from predators and other aggressors. This system is often referred to as a “fight-or-flight” response.Cortisol plays a large role in the body’s natural alarm system. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is activated in the body to help counter abuse or other acts of violence. When it is released in the body, Cortisol increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances the brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also curbs functions of the body that would be nonessential or even detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It changes immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes.

The body’s natural alarm system is usually self-regulating and automatically decreases hormone levels and enables your body to return to normal once a perceived threat has passed. However, for children who are victims of sexual abuse, clergy abuse and/or domestic violence, the threat of danger is always present and their fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. Children who are sexually abused often feel like they have no control over the situation. The less control you have over potentially stressful events and the more uncertainty they create, the more likely you are to feel stressed. This long-term activation of the stress-response system and the resulting overexposure of Cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt almost all of the processes in the body. For this reason, many children who are survivors of sexual abuse are left unable to regulate their emotions such as anger and fear. They are also more at risk for developing physical and emotional problems such as sleep disorders, digestive problems, depression, obesity, memory impairment and eczema.

Individual and Group Counseling for Children in Atlanta, Georgia
Individual and group counseling can help children who have been abused to process old hurts and feelings and to regain balance in their lives. However, sexual abuse is a highly complex issue with many ramifications, and counseling requires highly specialized skills and insight to optimize recovery. If you have been the victim of sexual abuse or if you have a child who has survived sexual abuse, please contact our Atlanta Child Abuse and Developmental Problems Experts today. If you would like to make a donation to help children find hope and healing, please give us a call today.

Atlanta Child Molestation Treatment. According to the United States Department of Juvenile Justice, one in every four children will experience some type of unwanted sexual touch before the age of eighteen: one in every three girls and one in every five boys. What is startling is the fact that fewer than five percent of molested children will tell anyone what has happened. In fact, the average child molester in the United States has over 400 victims over the course of his lifetime, and he will have between 30 and 60 victims before he is arrested for the first time.

So why don’t children tell? There are a variety of reasons. Part of the reason may be the fact that 97 percent of sexual abuse is done by a family member or a family friend. A child who is  being abused by a family member or family friend may not tell anyone because he or she is afraid of not being believed or of being blamed. He or she may also feel a sense of loyalty to the abuser and fear that if he or she tells someone, that person may go to jail. They may also remain silent out of fear. Children who are being sexually abused may fear that the abuser will physically hurt them or another member of their family if they tell anyone about the abuse.

Counseling for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused in Georgia
For many children, keeping the abuse secret is one of the worst parts of being abused. Giving children a safe, caring environment to talk about their abuse  and process the emotional and physical pain they have endured can help them to heal and to regain balance in their lives. Being around others who have been in the same situation can also be comforting for children who have been sexually abused.

Contact us for a referral.

Indicators of Sexual Abuse
According to the United States Department of Juvenile Justice, one in every four children
will experience some type of unwanted sexual touch before the age of 18: one in every three girls and one in every five boys. Since fewer than five percent of molested children will ever tell anyone what happened, it is important for parents, teachers and others who care for children to be aware of the indicators of sexual abuse. Although each case is different, some possible behavior indicators of child abuse include the following:

•  sleeping in class•  daydreaming
•  emotional outburst•  hunger
•  avoids physical activities•  aggression
•  reluctant to go home•  bullying
•  repeated tardiness•  perfectionism
•  avoids physical contact•  withdrawn
•  poor school performance•  poor memory
•  nervousness•  stuttering
•  overly compliant and passive behavior•  extreme shyness
•  inappropriate sexual language•  stoic behavior
•  extreme shifts in behavior•  clumsiness (accident prone)
•  bed wetting or frequent daytime urination•  tics or other jerking movements
•  fear of certain people, places or objects•  defensive sleep positions
•  self-injury (cutting, burning, head banging, hair pulling, extreme nail biting)Children who are being abused most often will use vague complaints that we should investigate further. Preverbal children or those with limited vocabulary will tell through behaviors such as aggression, showing fear or crying and/or by using speech that describes the event with words that they understand.

If your child or a child you know is showing the indicators of sexual abuse, it is worth further investigation! If you have further questions about the indicators of sexual abuse, please contact our  Sexual Abuse Specialists today and speak with Dr. Karen McDonald or Susan Hixson.

Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse or other acts of violence at the hands of an adult or authority figure in their life has a fear of authority. However, when the abuser is a clergy member, this can add to a victim’s distrust of authority figures and may cause them to have confusion concerning God. Clergy abuse can negatively affect a person’s personal relationship with God and their affiliation and activities with the church. In some cases, it may cause them to turn away from the church altogether.

Victims of clergy abuse share many of the same issues and traits as other victims of sexual abuse.  Survivors of sexual abuse often have issues with trust and this can cause relationship issues as well as broken relationships. They have trouble having fun and often suffer from depression and anxiety. The depression and anxiety can lead to thoughts of suicide as well as actual suicide. Survivors of sexual abuse often live in extremes and have trouble keeping balance in their lives.

Counseling for Victims of Clergy Abuse in Atlanta, Georgia. Many survivors have trouble parenting their own children because they have never been exposed to a functional and loving model of parenthood. Many survivors of sexual abuse live with shame and guilt and blame themselves for their abuse. The emotional damage caused by sexual abuse can lead to psychosomatic illnesses such as ulcers, migraines and panic attacks. It can also lead to sleep disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, rage, fear and phobias, codependency and eating disorders. These are just some of the indicators of sexual abuse that can result from clergy abuse. There are many more.

Dr. McDonald and the caring staff at The Rest of the Journey provide professional, clinical counseling from a Christian perspective. We offer individual and group counseling as well as five-day restorative retreats designed to help survivors of clergy abuse to process old hurts and feelings, reconcile their spiritual confusion, regain their balance in life and find inner peace.

If you are a survivor of clergy abuse, we can help. Please contact The Rest of The Journey today so you can begin your journey to emotional health.

Atlanta Domestic Violence Counseling
Many times domestic violence and sexual abuse go hand-in-hand. As a result, victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse share many of the same challenges and traits. Children who are the victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse learn from a very young age that the world is not a safe place. They often feel stuck in their situation and create the reality they think they deserve. Because  children feel shame and have low self-esteem, they may start believing that they deserve the abuse they are getting. Unfortunately, children who are victims of domestic violence are more at risk for getting involved in abusive relationships or for becoming abusers themselves.

Treating Survivors of Domestic Violence in Georgia
Many survivors of domestic violence were not taught effective living skills as children. This can make it very difficult for them to effectively parent their own children. They have trouble parenting their own children because they have never been exposed to a functional and loving model of parenthood. They may also encounter problems with personal relationships.

The emotional damage caused by domestic violence and sexual abuse can lead to psychosomatic illnesses such as ulcers, migraines and panic attacks. It can also lead to sleep disorders, alcohol and drug dependency, rage, fear and phobias, codependency, eating disorders and even post-traumatic stress disorder.

Both domestic violence and sexual abuse are highly complex issues with many ramifications, and counseling requires highly specialized skills and insight to optimize recovery. If you have been the victim of domestic violence and/or sexual abuse, contact our Atlanta Domestic Violence Counseling Specialists today to begin your journey to emotional health and to get more information about The Rest of The Journey recovery retreats.

Atlanta Abusive Families Treatment.
Growing up in an abusive family can leave lasting scars on the survivors of domestic abuse. So what does an abusive family look like? An abusive family promotes denial and secrecy. Members of the family may have repressed or explosive emotions, or both. In an abusive family, children are not taught effective living skills. They are abandoned physically and do not learn to touch, trust or feel. Children in abusive families may have rigid, inappropriate roles. They may be forced to function as the caretaker of younger kids or even of their parents. In an abusive family, all emotional energy is focused toward the needy family member, often the abuser. In many abusive families, children are punished if they tell anyone about the abuse or try to reach out for help.

Counseling Victims of Domestic Violence Atlanta, Georgia.
Both domestic violence and sexual abuse are highly complex issues with many ramifications, and counseling requires highly specialized skills and insight to optimize recovery. Karen and Susan offer individual and group counseling as well as five-day restorative retreats to help victims of domestic violence process their pain and feelings, regain their balance in life and find inner peace. As a survivor of severe abuse who personally had to do the work of recovery, Dr. McDonald is uniquely qualified to offer techniques of healing to others. Her style is low-key and compassionate. In a world that is quick to judge, she offers understanding and practical recovery techniques.

Dr. McDonald and Susan Hixson provide professional, clinical counseling from a Christian perspective. At The Rest of The Journey we believe that real freedom can only be found through Christ who sets us free and that by sticking to biblical principles and holding fast to God’s word, we will find the wisdom we seek. If you have been the victim of domestic violence, contact our Atlanta Abusive Families Treatment Experts today to get more information about our retreats and to begin your journey to emotional health.

PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after a person has seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death to themselves, actual injury to themselves or others or the death of others. It often occurs as a result of sexual abuse  and/or domestic abuse. The exact cause of PTSD is unknown. There are many psychological, genetic, physical and social factors involved.Symptoms of PTSD | PTSD Treatment in Georgia

PTSD alters the body’s response to stress and affects the stress hormones and chemicals that carry information between the nerves (neurotransmitters). Traumatic events cause PTSD in some people but not others. The reason for this is not currently known. The symptoms of PTSD can be separated into three main categories including the following:
• Reliving the event
• Avoidance, and
• Arousal

People who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder often have problems with sleep disruption and may experience recurrent dreams of the traumatic event. They also deal with intrusive thoughts or memories of the event or events and may experience flashbacks where they relive the event or events. They also encounter intense psychological distress and go to great efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings or conversations associated with the event. They may feel detached or estranged from others and have difficulty concentrating. Many sufferers of PSTD experience hypervigilance and have an exaggerated response to being startled.

Atlanta PTSD TreatmentPTSD is a highly complex issue with many ramifications, and counseling requires highly specialized skills and insight to optimize recovery. We offer individual and group counseling as well as five-day restorative retreats to help those who suffer from PTSD as a result of sexual abuse and/or domestic violence process their pain and feelings, regain their balance in life and find inner peace.

If you are suffering from PTSD, please contact us about our retreats to begin your journey to emotional health.

Reconciliation of spiritual confusion is an essential part of the recovery process for many survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence. People tend to view God the same way they do their earthly fathers. If their earthly fathers are cruel and punishing, they assume God is the same way. If their fathers are distant and uncaring, so must God be. If their fathers are demanding and cannot be pleased, that also transfers over to their expectation of God.

On the other hand, if people are blessed with loving, kind, involved fathers, it is natural for them to believe that God is a kind and loving heavenly Father. They will go to Him with their problems and know that they will be received with open arms and a compassionate heart.

Healing with God
Abused children (who grow into wounded adults) fear authority figures. This can include teachers, police officers, employers…anyone who has power over them. God is the ultimate authority figure; an unseen force they cannot touch. It is therefore understandable that they may feel distanced from God.

Maya Angelou said, “Of all the needs a lonely child has, the one that must be satisfied, if there is going to be hope and a hope of wholeness, is the unshakable need for an unshakable God.”

We are created for three kinds of relationships: with ourselves, with others and with God. If any one of those three is out of sync, it affects the other two. Abuse affects all three. Tragically, a survivor may struggle with relationships their entire life.

More often than not, survivors of abuse must reprogram their thinking and beliefs about God. They need to “see Jesus with skin on.” Other believers who have been wounded and have fought their way back to a solid footing with Christ can best help those struggling with spiritual confusion. We seek to show Christ’s love in a personal way, without criticism, judgment or expectation. We seek to show God’s love in a way that is understanding of where a person is in their spiritual life and with patience and prayerful support as they struggle through the confusion.

If you have been the victim of sexual abuse or other acts of violence, please contact our Counseling Specialists today and get more information about our counseling services and five-day restorative retreats.