Evaluating the effectiveness of a multimodal intensive episodic treatment centre for youth Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) victims: The Be Brave Ranch

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an all too prevalent form of childhood trauma worldwide. Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience some form of abuse in their childhood. CSA has been linked to numerous long-term effects: PTSD, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, sexual dysfunction, suicidal ideation, and cognitive impairment. Growing awareness of the problem has led more individuals to seek professional treatment. At present, there is no gold-standard for CSA treatment, particularly in youth. The Little Warriors Be Brave Ranch in Alberta, Canada is an innovative multimodal residential treatment program for children and adolescents with histories of CSA. We will gather mental health data from children and adolescents to measure symptom progression over time. We will also collect information from their caregivers, to gain better insight into the effects of treatment on them. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive framework for CSA treatment programs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Silverstone;Andrew Greenshaw

Student:

Matthew Reeson

Partner:

Little Warriors

Discipline:

Psychology

Sector:

Health care and social assistance

University:

Program: