Defining the Role of the Nonoffending Parent in Childhood Abuse Is Difficult
The process of trauma recovery includes developing a narrative to one’s history, compartmentalizing who is accountable for what, and integrating old material into a new paradigm. Intrafamilial abuse, particularly child abuse, is often layered and complex. The locus of the early stages of the work tends to be the perpetrator of physical, sexual, or emotional injury; however, throughout the progression those who failed to protect slowly come into focus. Survivors express uncertainty around the parent who did not harm them but did not protect them either. As therapists, our energy is directed towards... Read More
Sleep deprivation can lead to a host of negative mental health problems. People who do not get enough sleep may struggle to effectively regulate their emotions. They may be overly sensitive to stressors and react in impulsive and aggressive ways. Similarly, psychological stress can impair a person’s ability to sleep. People who suffer with anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and depression often have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. All of these relationships have been established through clinical research. But less is known about the relationship between impaired sleep and 
Exposure to trauma is known to cause extreme stress. For some individuals, the trauma impacts them significantly enough to cause 
People who have suffered childhood trauma are at increased risk for psychological problems resulting from extreme stress. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one such condition that has been linked to severe childhood trauma. When the trauma is inflicted by a caregiver, the child’s ability to cope is significantly impaired. The effects of unhealthy coping, attachment dysfunction, and emotional regulation can affect many areas of the child’s life as they continue into adulthood. Affect dysregulation is the inability to control one’s 
The most commonly used methods to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) are interpersonal 
Late onset alcoholism (Type 1) and early onset alcoholism (Type II) have both been linked to childhood abuse. Men and women also have been shown to be equally susceptible to 
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are more likely to experience psychological problems than their heterosexual peers, partly because of the discrimination they face. Many LGBT individuals struggle with anxiety, suicidal ideation, self-esteem issues, and even depression. Previous research has shown that depression is particularly high in the LGBT population. Although there are many factors that contribute to depression, such as family history and childhood maltreatment, little is known about how these factors and others contribute to depression in LGBT people. To address this... 
A quiet country town is the ideal setting for raising a family and getting to know neighbors. But rural living can present many challenges. Small towns are often isolated from much-needed services such as mental health programs, treatment centers, and even advanced medical care. However, 
Children who have experienced abuse are at risk for many negative life outcomes, one of which is intimate partner violence (IPV). There is an abundant amount of research showing how violence is cyclical and how many people who survive violent childhoods eventually find themselves perpetrating or becoming the victim of 
Children who experience difficulties in childhood are at increased risk for various negative mental health outcomes. Two of these outcomes, depression and psychosis, have been linked to adversity in childhood. 
Eldercare maltreatment is a societal problem that often goes unaddressed. Financial exploitation is another act that is committed against the 
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is believed to be cyclical. Men and women who have survived CSA tend to repeat the cycle of abuse by either experiencing the negative symptoms of abuse or by becoming perpetrators themselves. Men in particular, are at an increased risk for committing acts of sexual abuse or sexual aggression as a result of being abused in childhood. The majority of studies examining this dynamic focus on 
Children are removed from their homes and placed into foster care when their home environments are physically or emotionally unsafe. Children who are neglected, victims of 
Family members, and parents in particular, are supposed to be role models for their kids. And they are, according to a new study led by Sherry Hamby of the Department of Psychology at Sewanee, the University of the South in Tennessee. In her recent study, Hamby found that two out of every three adolescents who experience 
