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.
His History, Her Story is the first book to explore the impact of male childhood sexual abuse on adult relationships. Aimed at helping both the partners of trauma survivors and mental health professionals, the book is written from the unique perspective of Dr. Debra Warner, the leading American forensic psychologist in the field of male trauma who is married to a trauma survivor.
Much of the nomenclature inherited from the women’s movement is not fully applicable to and respectful of the individuality of our male clients. There is a need to expand and revise this nomenclature so that it is more gender appropriate. It is important to acknowledge that a significant number of females and males in our society are socialized differently. While a gender-neutral (humanistic) approach to sexual abuse may seem ideal, as a practical matter, we cannot ignore the gender differences that result from the socialization process. This process affects early development stages and this is applicable to treating males of all ages. The focus of this chapter is on the highly developed, covert, presexual conditioning process that is the mark of most sexual abuse of males.
