Unit I – Counselling Victims of Abuse (Gladding & Document)
Interpersonal Abuse : Child Abuse; Sibling Abuse; Spouse/Partner Abuse; Older Adult
Abuse. Victims of online abuse- Workplace Sexual Harassment; Date Rape; online
stalking, cyber bullying, unethical hacking. Prevention and Intervention.
Cyber Bullying:
Cyberbullying — when a person is harassed online or through social media — has amplified
the scale and scope of the problem. Today, young people spend ever-increasing amounts of
time online. “Tweens” (ages 8-12) average 5.5 hours of screen time a day, while teenagers
(13-18) are even more plugged in, with more than 8.5 hours, according to a 2021 census from
nonprofit Common Sense Media.
In addition to its 24-hour access, the anonymity of the internet also encourages cyberbullying.
Online bullies torment other users with posts designed to provoke or harm. The barriers to
bullying, in many cases, have been lowered or eliminated by the internet.
The rise of online culture has made bullying a much more complex social construct: what
does and does not constitute online bullying? According to the Cyberbullying Research
Center (CRC), cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the
use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” Cyberbullying can take many
different forms:
● Repeatedly making fun of a person online or picking on them via email or text
message
● Saying something bad about a person in a post or leaving critical or sarcastic
comments in response to a person’s posts
● Making online threats, spreading rumors, and posting unflattering pictures or videos
The effects of cyberbullying can often be intense for victims. SingleCare identifies the
negative impact cyberbullying can have on young victims:
● Emotional effects include humiliation, isolation, anger, and feelings of
powerlessness.
● Mental effects include depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, academic difficulties,
suicidal thoughts, and self-harm.
● Behavioral effects include drug and alcohol use, missing school, carrying a weapon,
and engaging in risky sexual behavior.
● Physical effects include gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders, and sleep
disturbances.
Cyberbullying isn’t necessarily more dangerous than other types of bullying, but it does
present a unique challenge to counselors whose clients have had such experiences. Still, there
are strategies and methods counselors can use to help bullied youth express themselves,
overcome bullying, and find other avenues of help.
One of the main challenges counselors face in treating clients who’ve been cyberbullied is
that victims may be reluctant to tell a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult about the
bullying. According to Nemours KidsHealth, the physician-reviewed information website,
children may feel fearful or ashamed of the bullying, or they may be worried that their
electronic devices may be taken away from them.
When a student comes in for help, counselors should be prepared with resources. Some of the
steps recommended by cyberbullying experts include: sharing suicide hotline numbers,
reporting the cyberbullying to proper administrative or law enforcement authorities, and
having information on programs/ centers like anti-defamation league.
Workplace Harassment:
Sexual harassment at the workplace is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual
favours, or other kinds of unwelcome sexual behaviour which would make you feel offended,
humiliated, or intimidated.
‘Sexual Harassment’ includes unwelcome sexual behavior (directly or by implication) such
as:
Physical contact and advances
● Forceful or unwanted, unnecessary physical touch, physical assault, or molestation
● Forceful and repeated invitations for dates
● Stopping or blocking movements within a workspace
● Sitting too closely and making you feel uncomfortable (if you move away the
person moves closer to you again).
Sexual favours
● A demand or request for sexual favours
● Any favour or advantage granted in return for a sexual favour from you
Note: Sexual favors could mean requests for lewd conversations, interactions, engaging in
perverse talks, entertaining similar conversations, and the actual physical act of indulging
with a person sexually.
Sexually coloured remarks
● Derogatory comments about your body or dress, slurs, epithets, or sexually
suggestive jokes
● Comments on your personal life with sexual undertones
Showing pornography or other sexually offensive or derogatory material
● Displaying sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, calendars, or posters
● Sending nude pictures or pornography
● Showing lewd images or jokes or offensive material to anyone in your presence or
on virtual meets
Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
● Making sexual gestures like leering, whistling, staring
● Gender-based insults and/or sexist remarks
● Eve-teasing
● Stalking, whether physically or on social media
● Repeated friend requests on your social media
● Calling you persistently at odd hours or beyond working hours
● Insisting on your video mode to be turned on at all times in virtual meetings, even
when company rules do not require it
● Persistent questions about your personal life
● Calling you names such as ‘sweetie’, ‘darling’ or ‘honey’
● Making someone expose their private parts to you or repeatedly staring at your
body parts
● Written communications of a sexual nature distributed in hard copy or via a
computer network, suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations
● Text messages or emails which are sexual in nature.
Quid Pro quo
Indirect or direct promises of benefits to an employee in return for sexual favours, also
known as Quid Pro Quo. Quid pro quo (literal meaning “this for that”) is an exchange
proposition that may reflect in one or more of the following situations:
● Hiring
● Payment of salary or compensation
● Promotion
● Retention decision
● Relocation or transfer
● Allocation of job, responsibility, or work
Indirect or direct threats to harm employment unless sexual favours/dates are granted,
including:
● Loss of promotion
● Loss of employment
● Negative performance evaluation
● Undesirable work allocation
● Denial of equal opportunities
Hostile Work Environment
Sexual harassment at workplace is not limited to one single situation, experience or incident.
The entire experience of a woman’s experience at work over a short/long period of time can
be created as an environment which is hostile towards her as a specific person of a gender.
This may reflect in the form of interference with work or creating an intimidating, offensive,
or hostile work environment through:
● Lewd, unwanted acts including sexually coloured remarks, staring, forcible
physical contact
● Displaying pornography
● Gender-based insults or sexist remarks
● Not including a person in projects or meetings on account of gender
● Refusing to acknowledge someone’s presence in meetings or work on account of
gender
● Sexist comments during meetings.
Humiliating treatment likely to affect an employee’s health or safety, such as:
● Physical confinement or behaviour which violates privacy
● Creating a work environment where the situation forces a woman to be in an
uncomfortable and inappropriate company of a male colleague or associate
● Making queries and gossip related to a woman’s private and personal life.
The POSH law applies to all workplaces in India – both the organized and unorganized
sectors. The law applies to organizations including:
● Government bodies or institutions
● Private and public sector organizations
● Non-Governmental organizations
● Organizations carrying out commercial, vocational, educational, entertainment,
industrial, financial activities
● Hospitals and nursing homes
● Educational institutes
● Sports institutions and stadiums
● Dwelling places or houses.
Working from home is considered an extension of the workplace and gets covered under the
POSH law even if you are working from a remote location. Some kinds of inappropriate
online behaviour can also be crimes under the Information Technology Act, 2000, also
known as online abuse or online violence.
Guide for Survivors of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace - Nyaaya Excellant resource
As a counsellor, You would educate the client about the various acts against workplace
counselling and also mention the details like the process of filing a complaint, duration within
which the case should be reported. Before initiating any conversation regarding against
against workplace harassment, the counselor should clarify the goal of counseling and tailor
session accordingly.
Date Rape:
The terms date rape and acquaintance rape are often used interchangeably, but date rape
specifically refers to any act under the legal definition of rape in which there has been some
type of dating, romantic, or potentially sexual relationship between the perpetrator and
victim. Acquaintance rape refers to rape in which the parties know one another, having such
a casual relationship as co-workers, neighbors, or friends. When a perpetrator uses physical
force or psychological intimidation to coerce a victim to engage in any sexual act against his
or her will, it is considered to be rape. Many people do not understand that having sex with an
individual who is unable to give consent because of incapacity caused by alcohol or drugs is
also considered to be rape, and is a felony crime of violence.
Many victims of date rape and acquaintance rape mistakenly feel they were not “raped,” but
simply made a very bad decision, or failed to stop the act. The feelings of shame and self-
blame often prevent such victims from reporting the crime – and it is a crime.
In order for sexual acts to be considered consensual, certain factors must be in place:
1. Age of Consent – Both parties must be the “age of consent,” which in most states
is 18.
2. Mental Capacity – Both parties must have the mental and legal capacity to give
consent. This means that some people, including some elderly people, some
people with disabilities, and anyone who is under the influence of drugs or
alcohol, or who is unconscious or sleeping, cannot legally give consent.
3. Active Agreement – Both parties must actively agree to engage in sexual
activities. Under the law, “Stop” means stop, and “No” means no.
The following content guides us through a six step like format of helping a victim who was
sexually abused.
Open up about what happened to you
It can be extraordinarily difficult to admit that you were raped or sexually assaulted.
There’s a stigma attached. It can make you feel dirty and weak. You may also be afraid of
how others will react. It seems easier to downplay what happened or keep it a secret. But
when you stay silent, you deny yourself help and reinforce your victimhood.
Reach out to someone you trust. As scary as it is to open up, it will set you free. However, it’s
important to be selective about who you tell, especially at first. Your best bet is someone who
will be supportive, empathetic, and calm. If you don’t have someone you trust, talk to a
therapist or call a rape crisis hotline or Consider joining a support group for other rape or
sexual abuse survivors. Support groups can help you feel less isolated and alone.
Cope with feelings of guilt and shame
Even if you intellectually understand that you’re not to blame for the rape or sexual
attack, you may still struggle with a sense of guilt or shame. These feelings can surface
immediately following the assault or arise years after the attack. But as you acknowledge the
truth of what happened, it will be easier to fully accept that you are not responsible. You did
not bring the assault on yourself and you have nothing to be ashamed about.
Feelings of guilt and shame often stem from misconceptions such as:
● You didn’t stop the assault from happening. After the fact, it’s easy to second guess
what you did or didn’t do. But when you’re in the midst of an assault, your brain and
body are in shock. You can’t think clearly. Many people say they feel “frozen.” Don’t
judge yourself for this natural reaction to trauma. You did the best you could under
extreme circumstances. If you could have stopped the assault, you would have.
● You trusted someone you “shouldn’t” have. One of the most difficult things to deal
with following an assault by someone you know is the violation of trust. It’s natural to
start questioning yourself and wondering if you missed warning signs.
● You were drunk or not cautious enough. You did not ask for it or deserve what
happened to you. Assign responsibility where it belongs: on the rapist.
Prepare for flashbacks and upsetting memories
When you go through something stressful, your body temporarily goes into “fight-or-
flight” mode. When the threat has passed, your body calms down. But traumatic experiences
such as rape can cause your nervous system to become stuck in a state of high alert. You’re
hypersensitive to the smallest of stimuli. This is the case for many rape survivors. Flashbacks,
nightmares, and intrusive memories are extremely common, especially in the first few months
following the assault. If your nervous system remains “stuck” in the long-term and you
develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they can last much longer.
Reconnect to your body and feelings
It’s frightening to get back in touch with your body and feelings following a sexual
trauma. In many ways, rape makes your body the enemy, something that’s been violated and
contaminated—something you may hate or want to ignore. It’s also scary to face the intense
feelings associated with the assault. But while the process of reconnecting may feel
threatening, it’s not actually dangerous. Feelings, while powerful, are not reality. They won’t
hurt you or drive you insane. The true danger to your physical and mental health comes from
avoiding them. Once you’re back in touch with your body and feelings, you will feel more
safe, confident, and powerful. Few ways you can reconnect with your body is
● Rhythmic movement.
● Mindfulness meditation.
● Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qigong.
● Massage
Stay connected
It’s common to feel isolated and disconnected from others following a sexual assault.
You may feel tempted to withdraw from social activities and your loved ones. But it’s
important to stay connected to life and the people who care about you. Support from other
people is vital to your recovery. But remember that support doesn’t mean that you always
have to talk about or dwell on what happened. Having fun and laughing with people who care
about you can be equally healing. Participate in social activities, even if you don’t feel like it.
Do “normal” things with other people, things that have nothing to do with the sexual trauma.
Nurture yourself
Healing from sexual trauma is a gradual, ongoing process. It doesn’t happen
overnight, nor do the memories of the trauma ever disappear completely. This can make life
seem difficult at times. Take time to rest and restore your body’s balance, healing takes time.
Be smart about media consumption, it’s a double edged sword. Take care of yourself
physically and Avoid alcohol and drugs.
Recovering from Rape and Sexual Trauma - HelpGuide.org