Safe Place Treatment and Support Program
- About Safe Place Treatment and Support Program
- How do I know if my child needs help?
- What do I do if my child experiences sexual abuse
About Safe Place Treatment and Support Program
The SAFE Place Treatment and Support Program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia provides services, including outpatient treatment, family support, psychoeducation, referrals and resources to children and families where there is known or suspected child sexual abuse.
Depending on the needs of the individual child and family, SAFE Place Treatment and Support therapists may:
- Provide time-limited family support/psychoeducation in cases where trauma-focused treatment is not indicated
- Provide trauma-focused outpatient psychotherapy
- Help families find appropriate resources in the community
In addition, SAFE Place clinicians may provide education and training about topics related to child sexual abuse to interested community agencies and parent groups.
Family support/psychoeducation
When sexual abuse is known or suspected to have occurred, it can be confusing and overwhelming. SAFE Place clinicians may support families by:
- Helping families deal with challenging behaviors a child may be exhibiting
- Helping caregiver/child process and understand medical information
- Supporting families in navigating systems involved, such as child welfare, legal and medical systems
- Teaching safety skills that may decrease the risk of child sexual abuse
- Providing caregivers with education about typical sexual development
- Improving the quality of communication between caregiver and child about difficult experiences
- Helping families to find appropriate resources in the community and making referrals
Outpatient treatment
In many cases, children who have experienced sexual abuse will benefit from trauma-focused psychotherapy to address symptoms related to the abuse. SAFE Place clinicians are trained in providing Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Participants can expect treatment duration to be 12 to 20 sessions.
How do I know if my child needs help?
Possible symptoms or problems after experiencing a traumatic event include:
- More childlike behavior such as clinging to caregivers, bedwetting or thumb sucking
- Trouble falling or staying asleep
- Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
- Nightmares
- Changes in eating patterns
- Refusal to talk about the trauma
- Angry outbursts/increased aggression
- Excessive sadness
- Excessive nervousness
- Fears for his/her or others’ safety
- Mood swings
- Jumpiness or being easily startled
- Flashbacks related to the trauma
- Repetitive play related to the trauma
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Withdrawal from others
- Inappropriate sexual behaviors
- Trying to avoid certain people, places and things
- Thinking or acting as though wants to hurt self
- Increased problems with school and grades
What do I do (and not do) if my child experiences sexual abuse?
If your child does disclose to you that she/he has experienced sexual abuse:
Resist:
- Reacting with shock, anger, disgust
- Forcing a child to talk
- Forcing a child to show injuries
- Asking "why" questions
- Teaching the child new terms or words
- Interviewing the child
Do:
- Report any suspicion of abuse
- See a physician
- Obtain a mental health assessment
- Utilize support for yourself
- Listen and support all feelings
- Identify a plan
- Reassure the child (and yourself) that it is not their fault
- Maintain rules and routines
Visit the Resources for Families section for information on how to support sexual assault/abuse survivors.
Contact Us
- 215-590-4923
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