Service launched for survivors of childhood sexual abuse

A CHILDREN 1ST service in Moray has introduced a service that helps parents who have experienced sexual abuse in their childhood. The service, called Stronger Safer Families for parents, will provide support and help them deal with any issues arising from their experiences of sexual abuse, which are having an impact on their parenting.

Beth Fraser, CHILDREN 1ST Service Manager for the Moray service, said: “Our Stronger Safer Families service already works with children and young people who have experienced abuse, as well as women who have experienced domestic violence or have unresolved issues from abuse they experienced in childhood. It’s fantastic that we can now open this service out to include both mothers and fathers who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.”

There are two workers based at the Moray service who will be delivering therapeutic support to parents who are survivors of abuse. Claudia Genest brings considerable experience of working with abuse and trauma and has been running the Stronger Safer Families for women service for almost two years. David Harrison also brings considerable experience of working with issues of sexual abuse, including helping to set up and run a telephone helpline and face-to face counselling service for male survivors of sexual abuse in Leicestershire.

David Harrison added: “Male and female survivors of sexual abuse can have many issues in common. However, we also know that there can be specific issues for men, both in terms of the impact of the abuse on the way that they see themselves, and in the ways in which they access support. Our aim is that this will be reflected in the service that we offer, and that both men and women will find our service accessible and appropriate to their particular needs.”

If you want to make a referral or just an informal enquiry about the service, Claudia and David can be contacted on Tel: (01343) 564170.