This chapter from Understanding the Sexual Betrayal of Boys and Men focuses on empowerment as a crucial component of the healing process for male survivors of sexual trauma. We believe that empowerment is facilitated by connection with other survivors. With the expansion of grassroots services for male survivors and the growth of the Internet, networking amongst male survivor peers is becoming more accessible. In this chapter, we will review research that demonstrates that the effects of individual psychotherapy can be amplified when clients risk sharing their recovery with peers.
Healing Sexually Betrayed Men and Boys: Treatment for Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Trauma is the new authoritative source for treatment of sexually victimized men and boys. Male victims and survivors of sexual trauma lived in shadow until the turn of the 21st century, when scandal after scandal about the sexual abuse of boys and men shed light on their suffering. These men and boys require different treatment roadmaps than their female counterparts. Yet there is little in the professional literature to help a clinician work with sexually traumatized boys and men.
