Healing Together: Supporting Survivors of Sexual Violence and Their Families

Sexual assault is a pervasive traumatic experience in Canada which can have long-lasting consequences on the quality of life of victims. Literature has shown that the impacts of sexual assault can result in secondary traumatization for a survivor’s loved ones. Existing interventions for supporting survivors of sexual assault largely treat trauma at the individual level, neglecting the importance of relationships to the healing process and ignoring the reality of secondary traumatization. As such, the current study employed Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze semi-structured interviews with mental health practitioners working with survivors of sexual assault and their families. The analysis sought to capture their experiences and perceptions of systemic interventions available in Canada. The study aimed to generate further understanding of the effectiveness of current supports for promoting the healing of survivors and their loved ones in the context of sexual assault. The findings can inform meaningful relational interventions that promote the healing and resiliency of families in the wake of sexual violence. In addition, important implications for training mental health practitioners working in this area were generated.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education Graduate Program – Educational Psychology

Grantor

Werklund School of Education

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Therrien, Julia

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Xu, Zhao

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Roseline, Warria
• José, Domene
• Xu, Zhao

• Family systems
• practitioner training and education
• sexual violence
• trauma interventions

Statement dc:rights

• Unless otherwise indicated, this material is protected by copyright and has been made available with authorization from the copyright owner. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/50079

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:1880/122486