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Article published In:
Narrative Inquiry
Vol. 28:1 (2018) ► pp.119–138

Passing on the experience of psychotherapy and healing

Letters of adolescents who have been victims of sexual abuse to another

| Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Developed in the context of a larger research study on healing from sexual abuse, the present article analyzes written narratives (letters) produced by nine adolescents who have been victims of sexual assault and who successfully completed a specialized psychotherapy. Letters, directed to another child or adolescent starting their therapy in the same center, were analyzed using three integrated types of narrative analysis (thematic, structural and performative).

Key findings show that narratives exhibit messages of hope and encouragement, and adolescents view themselves as agents involved in their own transformation. In their letters, they urge other young children and adolescents to become actively involved in their own healing process. Participants stress the role of psychotherapy and therapeutic support in their recovery from sexual abuse.

Results are discussed highlighting the use of letters in clinical practice on adolescent sexual assault. Integration of multiple types of narrative analysis is discussed as a methodological support.

Keywords: recovery, therapy, letters, sexual abuse, agency, narrative analysis
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
    • Participants
    • Data production process
    • Analysis
  • Results
    • Forms of writing
    • Positioning
    • Agency
    • Content
      • Shared experiences of pain and damage
      • Reflections on the psychotherapeutic process
      • Meanings associated with change and healing after the psychotherapeutic process
      • Personal efforts to promote healing
      • Accepting support from other relevant figures promote healing
  • Conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 27 September 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.17001.cap
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