Sign Up To Stay In Touch

We send out newsletters only occasionally and we fully respect that your information always remains private.

Exploring male childhood sexual abuse survivors’ experiences of specialist counselling services

Global estimates suggest 5% to 10% of men report experience of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). However, male CSA is significantly underreported, with men being reluctant to disclose due to vulnerability, stigmatisation, homophobic responses and fearing a loss of masculinity.

A lack of research and service provision targeted towards men suggests male survivors of CSA are marginalised. This qualitative study, using a narrative approach, focussed on four adult male survivors of CSA. The aim of the study was to explore their experiences of engaging in counselling and support services for CSA from nonstatutory and voluntary organisations. Face-to-face narrative interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim.

Analysis was undertaken using a two-phase approach; first, each narrative was analysed as a whole; second, an across-transcripts analysis was carried out to identify shared themes and divergences that emerged from the individual stories. In this paper, findings from the second phase of the analysis are presented. Three themes regarding male survivors’ experiences of specialist counselling services were identified: “Trust Me, I’m a Doctor,” “Trust me, I’m a Counsellor” and “Counsellor or Mother?”

This is the first academic study focussing specifically on men’s experience of support for CSA in the UK from a service user perspective. Making an original contribution to the knowledge base regarding counselling experiences and the effectiveness of therapy for male CSA survivors, it will help to inform professional counselling services which are likely to come into contact with male survivors of CSA.

Download PDF

Newsletter Updates

Enter your email address below and subscribe to our newsletter

Thank you for your donation. Our survivor community appreciates your support.

$
Personal Info

Credit Card Info
This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

Donation Total: $100.00 One Time

The Inland Revenue Department has confirmed that Tautoko Tāne Taranaki has Donation Organisation Status and we welcome Donations to our Charitable Trust. Individuals making donations can claim Tax Credits for income tax purposes for cash donations of $5 or more, see Section LD 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007.

Tax Deductions

Please email us including your address to [email protected] for your receipt which you will need for tax purposes.