Background

The client, AN, was brought to The Teddy Bear Foundation by her mother after disclosing that she had been sexually assaulted by her mother’s helper’s 15-year-old son. The client’s father is not involved in her life, and she lives with her biological mother.

Following the disclosure, the mother initially told the client not to talk about the incident. This was influenced by the mother’s own history of childhood sexual abuse, during which she reported that she was not believed by her own mother. The client’s disclosure therefore triggered unresolved trauma for the mother.
The mother also reported changes in the client’s behaviour, including hugging unfamiliar people. The client had previously attended Discovery Clinic, where medical tests did not show evidence of the abuse, and she was subsequently referred to The Teddy Bear Foundation for counselling and psychosocial support.

Intervention

The social worker used age-appropriate therapeutic techniques to establish trust and create a safe environment in which the client could express herself freely. The mother was also engaged during the intervention to gather additional information and address her own emotional needs.

The mother was referred to the Foundation’s psychologist for her own healing and support, recognising the impact of her previous trauma on her ability to respond to her daughter’s disclosure.

The client received age-appropriate education on:
• Body parts and their functions.
• Safe and unsafe touch.
• Private body parts and appropriate boundaries.
• Who is allowed to touch her private parts.
• Identifying people she can trust.
• Who she can tell when she feels uncomfortable or unsafe.
• Speaking to her mother or another trusted adult when something concerns her.
• Respecting the boundaries of other children.

The therapeutic environment was structured to allow the client to talk about the incident without being interrupted or discouraged. The social worker normalised the client’s emotional responses while ensuring that the seriousness of the incident was not minimised.

Outcome

The intervention is ongoing. The client has become increasingly comfortable during sessions and is now more chatty, energetic, and engaged compared with her presentation at the beginning of the intervention.

The client’s mother reported that she is doing well at school/creche and has noticed positive changes in her daughter’s behaviour. The mother is also continuing with her own therapeutic sessions and has reported visible improvements in her emotional well-being.

The client is currently being prepared for termination of therapy, while her mother continues to receive therapeutic support. The intervention has strengthened the client’s understanding of personal safety, boundaries, trusted adults, and appropriate ways of seeking help.