Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse: Implications for Couples’ Therapists

There is a well-established relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adult sexual functioning. Couples that include a partner who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse are at increased risk for a wide variety of relationship problems that accompany or result in unsatisfying or dysfunctional sexual relationships. Couples’ therapists need an understanding of the long-term impact of such trauma as well as knowledge about specific interventions that might minimize the potentially damaging effects on significant intimate relationships.