Just Before Dawn — From The Shadows of Tradition to New Reflections in Trauma Assessment and Treatment of Sexual Victimization

Questions abound when attempting to understand the intricacies of trauma as a result of sexual abuse. Why does a rape victim of five years become the high school valedictorian and appear to be unscathed by her sexual abuse? Why did that 6th grader, after only being fondled on the outside of his clothing, put a shotgun in his mouth and in despair, end his short life? Why do three children, sexually abused by the same offender in the same daycare with similar circumstances, all appear to be traumatized differently, with varying responses to immediate healing or a lifetime of suffering? The answers to questions like these lie with a better understanding of the intricacies of sexual abuse trauma, challenging traditional myths and misconceptions, eventually striving toward new reflections of knowledge.

From the shadows of tradition. The tragedy of tradition holds professionals and victims bound to archaic and unfounded ideas regarding the nature of trauma. Unfortunately, those assessing victim suffering seem to follow the legal system's matrix of determining the seriousness of sexual crimes. Without forethought, those factors applied to sex offenders in prosecution are automatically applied to victims, suggesting that high-risk offenders cause high levels of trauma and low-risk sexual criminals tend to levy lighter damage to those they abuse.

To new reflections. Just Before Dawn departs from a traditional system of evaluating trauma based on sex offender's risk, creating a Renaissance or new dimension in understanding victim suffering. This welcome publication provides a more effective and comprehensive way to evaluate trauma, paving the way for the development of pertinent treatment plans, leading sexual victims from the power of the offender to finally breaking the trauma bond of suffering.

Just Before Dawn is an absolute necessity for any professional or layperson interested in understanding sexual victim trauma. This publication may also be helpful to professionals involved in civil cases, developing or administering sexual abuse treatment programs, providing expert witness testimony, constructing program treatment philosophies, coordinating offender and victim treatment, or prosecuting criminal sex abuse cases. And perhaps the most important purpose for this publication is for victims of sexual abuse, seeking a better understanding of how to navigate the road to recovery that seems so confusing.

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