When Jamie’s mother, Arlene, attended the first-term Parent Teacher Association meeting, Carole, another parent who works as a case manager at a local community mental-health clinic, helped seat her. Over coffee after the PTA meeting, Arlene disclosed her concerns about the changes in Jamie. A little over a year ago, Jamie was kidnapped and sexually victimized over a 2-day period, after which he managed to escape. Arlene explained how Jamie’s life changed since that time: his grades dropped substantially, he started eating his meals alone at school, he stopped interacting with other children, and he has become a loner with no close friends.
After completing her narration of Jamie’s current condition, Arlene asked Carole for advice on his condition. She was not sure whether this is a phase. Carole promised to bring Arlene some literature on the developmental and psychological effects on a child who has been sexually victimized.
- What would this literature indicate about the psychological and developmental effects on a child who has been sexually victimized?
- What intervention strategies might Carole recommend to Arlene?
