Healing the little girl within : healers healing sexual trauma

Abstract

This study examined the different forms of holistic healing techniques that were\ud utilized by healers who assist African American female survivors of sexual abuse. There\ud exist within the African American community a historic ???culture of silence??? rooted in\ud slavery in connection to sexual assault that in part prevents healing. African American\ud women who are sexually assaulted experience high rates of low self-esteem, anxiousness,\ud depression, somatic complaints and sex problems. This study explored holistic healing\ud from an African world view. Healing from this worldview encompasses the mind, body\ud and spirit. Through interviews with 4 community healers this study examined techniques,\ud strategies and approaches used to support African American women healing from sexual\ud abuse. Ultimately this study served as a future healing template for African American\ud women healing from sexual trauma