Case Study: The Sexually Abused

Photo: ©Marjan_Apostolovic from Getty Images via Canva.com

Janet was first sexually abused by a relative when she was 9 years old. The sex crime continued for almost three years. She never told anyone until her 30th birthday, when she revealed to her husband what had happened.

Before telling him, she had convinced herself that there was something wrong with her, which was the only way she could reconcile why anyone would abuse her. As a kid, she assumed all authority figures were right and that there was something wrong with her. How could adults make a mistake about anything, even if it’s sexual abuse?

Janet had to bring an interpretation to what happened to her. She filtered the facts through the lens of her adolescent mind and came to the wrong conclusion. Nobody knew about the abuse, her erroneous interpretations, and how she practically applied the results of the abuse to her life.

One result is that she spent her life trying to prove that she was better than what she believed herself to be. After 20 years of frustrating and exhausting relationships, she gave up and told her husband what was wrong with her.

Case Study Questions

1. How will you convince Janet that she is not a bad person because of what happened to her?
2. How will you help her understand the doctrine of total depravity without exacerbating the problem in question one?
3. Describe her current identity crisis, and what her real identity should be.
4. How would you provide care for her, to restore her to Christ?

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Rick Thomas

Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.

In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).