A Question for Dr Simon Crisp

By Deb Anderson
The Age
May 3, 2013

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/a-question-for-dr-simon-crisp-20130503-2ixug.html

Dr Simon Crisp

Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will involve thousands of witnesses, at once validating their experiences and heralding institutional reform. But for survivors, having realistic expectations of the inquiry is important, says clinical psychologist Simon Crisp. The adjunct lecturer at Monash University has worked with adult and youth survivors of abuse in both private practice and the public mental health system.

Explain to us the guilt survivors often feel.

Survivors often seek an explanation for how and why the abuse happened. Especially if the perpetrator is trusted or seen as an authority, the victim develops the idea that they – the victim – must have been responsible for the abuse. This can include believing they caused this otherwise upstanding person – the perpetrator – to succumb to temptation. They can retrospectively analyse events and blame themselves. The guilt can be so powerful, survivors often lose almost all self-worth and confidence in themselves.

Especially for children?

Children commonly believe bad things happen to them for a legitimate reason. They can form a belief that this was their responsibility or fault. If the perpetrator was someone they respected, trusted or felt some fondness towards, they may attempt to protect them due to a sense of loyalty. They may maintain secrecy about it so there won't be negative consequences for the perpetrator, such as prosecution, but often see themselves as equally at fault.

How might the royal commission affect change on this level?

Having an open, transparent and investigative process into sexual abuse can hold profound significance for survivors in their recovery, including validating their experience. Certainly for many survivors, their families and others affected, I imagine the commission may well be an extremely empowering process, giving credibility and some sense of legitimacy to their suffering and sense of injustice. So it can have extraordinarily positive impacts.

Negative impacts?

For some individuals it may be that their expectations of the commission process become raised to a point where they are unrealistic.

For example?

So some people may expect out of this process they'll be able to put everything behind them and their lives will radically change. For instance, issues of compensation may be important to those whose lives have been severely impacted by abuse. This may happen; but it may not. Although the commission is a positive step forward, people's expectations need to remain realistic.

What about for people presenting evidence to the commission?

For many survivors of sexual abuse, they actually may not know how they will react until they get there. They may feel that they are comfortable and willing to give evidence, but having done so may feel quite differently. It's not uncommon for people to be optimistic and think they'll be able to manage what happens once their experience enters into an arena of public discussion. But often there is a complex mix of emotional reactions at the time, as well as lasting emotional reactions, which can be difficult to manage and may be highly distressing and disorientating. Trusted support networks will be crucial for many.

What advice can you offer?

It's important for people to think about this: what do they realistically think the findings, or questioning, or process of investigation might do for them? It's likely that a person who has been a victim of sexual abuse will have those traumas re-activated during this process. It can be a time where, for people who have had counselling or therapy in the past, they might find it useful to consider returning to that for a review.

Is "reliving the experience" common?

Unfortunately it is quite common. If a person hasn't learnt how to fully manage the traumatic memories, they might find it difficult reflecting on past experience.

How can friends and family help?

This commission is an extremely positive step towards finding resolution for many people – and hopefully aids significantly in their recovery. At the same time, it might be a period that is really quite difficult. Families, friends and support people of survivors need to be mindful that the commission may not just be about celebrating a victory for justice, but that it can open old wounds that can be deeply painful and possibly destabilising.

Dr Deb Anderson is from the School of Journalism, Australian and Indigenous Studies, Monash University.