1. 6/9/2018
Growing Beyond: An Introduction to Adolescent Girls with Sexually Abusive Behavior
Susan Robinson
June 4, 2013

2. Objectives Understand the literature specific to this population.
6/9/2018
Objectives
Understand the literature specific to this population.
Provide overview of assessment and risk considerations.
Review clinical needs and treatment goals.
1. Research needs to guide practice
2.Female adolescent development: Because by understanding development we
can better understand and have compassion for the girls we work with.
Many probation officers, therapists, dislike working with girls because thy are
considered high maintenance. Trade line.
3. Motivation of sexually abusive girls
4. Differences between sexually abusive girls and boys.
5.Typologies, assessment and treatment needs and goals.
Main Points:
Female offending may be more relationally based; The dynamics and process
when working with females is different.

3. 6/9/2018
Statistics
In the USA:
209 females under age 18 arrested for forcible rape
5,337 females under 18 arrested for other sexual offenses (excluding prostitution)
(FBI, 2009)
1. Generally, juveniles females account for 2% of rapes and 9% of other sex offenses (Snyder &
Sickmund, 2006).
2. Cortoni & Hanson: this prevalence based on official records and victimization studies from
Canada, UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand. Women are responsible for between 4% and
5% of all sexual offenses (Cortoni & Hanson, 2005; Cortoni, Hanson, & Coache, 2010).

4. Research Limitations Few studies or comparison studies
6/9/2018
Research Limitations
Few studies or comparison studies
Small sample sizes
Lack of statistical analysis
Unrepresentative samples
Poor generalizability
Reliability/validity concerns with archival data
Limitations of self-reported data
One of the largest sample sizes include = N = 271 for Ray & English, 1995 –
34 sexually aggressive juvenile females compared to 237 sexually aggressive juvenile males.
Intensive case file review. Reliability of the data is dependent on the accuracy of caseworker
case file recording.
Vandiver (2010): N=177 juvenile boys compared with n=177 juvenile girls.
Hunter (1993): Sample size of 10 – residential treatment program
Generalizability: Kubik, Becker, & Righthand: Sample size 11 – all from Maine DOC

5. Sexual Victimization Histories of Sexually Abusive Girls
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Sexual Victimization Histories of Sexually Abusive Girls
Gender appears to be the area of greatest difference:
Hickey et al. (2008): Sample size 22 female and 254 male juveniles. UK
community based treatment.
2. Kubik, Hecker, & Righthand (2002): Sample size 11. All from Maine DOC.
Compared to sexually abusive male adolescents (11) and adolescent females with
non-sexual victim-involved offense histories.
3. Miccio-Fonseca (2000): Sample size = 18 (adults and adolescent females
combined). Compared to sexually abusive males (n=332) and non-sex
offending females (n=215).
4. Mathews, Hunter, & Vuz (1997): Sample of 67 girls from outpatient and
residential treatment compared to 70 boys from same settings. Study is
limited due to the reliance on retrospective and self-reported data, and
differences in sampling procedures b/tw comparison groups.
5. Bumby & Bumby (1997): Sample of 12 sexually abusive girls from an
inpatient facility for emotionally and behaviorally disordered children and
adolescents. Descriptive study: Examination of existing records.
Latter comparison study of 18 s.o. girls and 18 s.o. boys, 36 non-offending
females and 24 nonoffending males.
Girls
Boys
Study
96%
70%
Hickey et al., 2008
64%
50%
Kubik et al., 2002
72%
Miccio-Fonseca, 2000
78%
43%
Mathews et al., 1997
100%
63%
Bumby & Bumby, 1997

6. Sexual Victimization Histories
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Sexual Victimization Histories
Descriptive studies
72.7% - 100% had sexual abuse histories
(Weedon, 2011; Howley, 2001;
Hunter et al., 1993; Johnson, 1989) .
Weedon (2011): Sample of 54 girls from community based agency.
Secondary data from client records of girls with HSB: Time period from 1993 to 2011.
2. Howley (2001): Sample size 66 girls in a residential treatment program.
Descriptive study/case review. No comparison sample.
3. Hunter et al. (1993): 10 girls in residential treatment. Descriptive study.
4. Johnson (1989): 13 girls age Descriptive study. In her study in 1988 on
boys, only 49% had been sexually abused.
***In one recent study, a history of SCA was the single most significant predictive
variable for sexually abusive behavior for girls (Sigurdsson, Gudjonsson,
Asgeirsdottir & Sigfusdottir, 2010).

7. Sexual Victimization Histories
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Sexual Victimization Histories
Often abused at young ages
Often victimized by multiple perpetrators
Often sexually abused repeatedly and severely
Mathews et al.: 64% of girls prior to age 5 vs. 25.8% of boys (Mathews et al.)
Hickey et al.: Median age 4 for girls vs. 7 for boys (Hickey et al.)
Miccio-Fonseca, 2000: 54% of girls prior to age 6 vs. 33% of boys
Howley: Median age 3.8
Hunter et al.: Median age 4.5
Kubik et al: Mean number of perpetrators for girls was 4.83 vs for boys.
Mathews et al.: Mean number of perpetrators for girls was 4.5 vs. 1.4 for boys.
Hickey et al.: Median number for girls was 3.5 vs. 1 for boys
Howley: 74% of girls abused by two or more perpetrators (Howley).
Hunter et al: Mean number of perpetrators for girls was 5 (ranging from 2-7)
In the Hickey et al. study they also found that being a female, as opposed to a male
juvenile with sexually abusive behavior, is predicted by having a higher number
of perpetrators of their own sexual victimization history (Hickey et al. 2008).
Kubik et al.: 75% of girls had been victimized three or more times vs. 20% of boys.
71.4% endured anal or vaginal penetration vs. 22.2% of boys
Mathews et al: 72.5% of girls reported being the victim of force and aggression vs. 45.2% of the boys.

8. Sexual Victimization Histories
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Sexual Victimization Histories
Many girls have been abused by female perpetrators.
Girls more often abused by relatives and/or both relatives and acquaintances
(Hickey et al.)
Hunter et al.: 60% of girls had been abused by a female perpetrator.
Howley: A female perpetrator abused 32% of the girls.
Hickey et al.: Girls were more likely than boys to be abused by both females and
males (57.1% vs. 30.1%)
Mathews et al.: 3x as many girls than boys reported having been sexually abused by a
female perpetrator.
***In the Hickey et al. study:
Girls were more often than boys abused by relatives (85.7% vs. 57.4%) and more
often than boys abused by both relatives and acquaintances (57.1% vs. 28.4%).
In Weedon’s study, 34.1% experienced both extrafamilial and intrafamilial CSA.

9. Other Maltreatment Histories
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Other Maltreatment Histories
Female adolescents “are more likely to have been maltreated in a variety of ways compared to their male counterparts”
Physical abuse (63.6% vs. 40%)
Neglect (70% vs. 36.4%)
Exposure to family violence (62.5% vs. 22.2%)
Kubik et al.
Physical Abuse:
Mathew’s et al: 60% physical abuse vs. 44.9% of boys.
Howley’s study: 82% physical abuse.
Ray & English: 90% of girls vs. 80.2% of boys had physical abuse histories.
Bumby & Bumby: 75% physical abuse
Neglect:
Weedon: 77.3% emotional abuse; 65.9% physical abuse; 61.4% neglect;
43% had experienced all four maltreatment experiences (including sexual abuse)
Hickey et al: 90.9% emotional neglect; 77.3% physical neglect
Schwartz et al (2006): 95% neglected;
Howley: 71% general neglect
Bumby & Bumby: 42% emotional or physical neglect.

10. 6/9/2018
Other Exposure
Girls more likely than boys to witness domestic violence and sexual deviance within home
(Schwartz et al., 2006).
Girls more likely to be exposed to inadequate sexual boundaries in the home (77.3% vs. 41.3%)
(Hickey et al., 2008).
Schwartz et al., 2006: 659 boys compared with 154 girls in order to understand the precursors to
sexual offending among youth. Living instability was also notable with on average 11 changes in
living situations for the girls. This study is consistent with Kubik et al.’s study.
Hickey et al: Example of Jade and witnessing mom’s sexual behaviors with men.
Weedon (2011): 70.5% exposed to domestic violence
56.8% at least one parent with a substance abuse problem
31.8% parent with criminal history
26% close family member known sex offender
47.7% sexualized family environments
Nearly ½ of mothers (47.7%) had at least one mental health issue; 11.4% for fathers
40.9% intergenerational sexual abuse within family

11. Conclusions Regarding Victimization Histories
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Conclusions Regarding Victimization Histories
“[F]emales who committed sexual offenses tended to have more severe histories of maltreatment than their male counterparts”
Kubik et al
“In comparison to their male counterparts, the developmental histories of the juvenile female perpetrators reflected even more extensive and severe maltreatment”
Mathews et al
“Biological and socialization factors create a higher threshold for the
externalization of experienced developmental trauma in females than males…
[I]t may be that females are generally less likely than males to manifest the
effects of maltreatment in the form of interpersonal aggression or violence and
that females who develop such patterns are generally those who have experienced
remarkably high levels of such developmental trauma in the absence of environmental
support for recovery and the presence of healthy female role models” (p.164).

12. Mental Health Issues Among Sexually Abusive Girls
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Mental Health Issues Among Sexually Abusive Girls
PTSD
RAD
Depression
Prior Mental Health Treatment
Suicidal Ideation
Learning/Academic Difficulties
1. PTSD: 59.1% had PTSD vs. 26.4% of boys (Hickey et al.) Incidentally in that study, 45.5%
of boys had conduct disorder vs. 9.1% of girls; 50% had PTSD vs. 9.1% of boys (Kubik et al.);
Almost ½ of girls met criteria for PTSD (Mathews et al.)
2. RAD: 40.9% had dx of RAD vs. 15.4% of boys (Hickey et al.)
3. Depression: 83% had histories of depression (Bumby & Bumby); Over ½ had mood disturbance
(Mathews et al.); Depression (25%) (Weedon)
4. Prior mental health treatment: 83% had received prior mental health (Bumby & Bumby)
Weedon, 2011: 72.7% had one or more mental health diagnosis; 52% had at least two mental health
Issues; ADHD (25%); Self-harming behaviors (43.2%)
5. Suicide: Miccio-Fonseca: 44% of the females had attempted suicide vs. 15% of the males.
50% of the females came from families where someone had attempted suicide vs. 8% of the males.
Hunter et al: 60% had histories of suicidal ideation and attempts; Bumby & Bumby: 58% had
histories of suicide attempts. Weedon: Nearly 30% of girls evidenced suicidal ideation;
13.6% attempted suicide
6. Academic: Problems range from 40-83% - 40% learning disabilities (Hunter et. al.);
Howley: 60% had below average IQs, 50% received special education services.
Tardif et al: 80% had a learning disorder. (15 juvenile females compared to 13 Adult females in
outpatient treatment in Montreal.) Bumby & Bumby: 83% academic difficulties. In comparison study,
females were retained at least one grade in school at a significantly higher rate than males

13. Behavioral Problems Running away Stealing Truancy Relational deficits
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Behavioral Problems
Running away
Stealing
Truancy
Relational deficits
Howley’s study: 49% had run away; 39% engaged in truancy
Bumby & Bumby: 58% had run away; 58% truant (higher truancy rates than
boys); 33% stealing
Hunter et al: 60% had run away.
Ray & English: When compared with boys, higher rates of stealing (74.2%
vs. 52.8%) and truancy (43.8% vs. 27.6%)
Weedon (2011):
Poor peer relationships (68.2%)
Social skills problems (63.6%)
Social isolation (56.8%)
Relational aggression (34.1%)

14. Motivations for Sexual Abuse
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Motivations for Sexual Abuse
More about anger (~ 60%), towards main caretakers
Resistance to cultural scripts
Protection by perpetration
Trauma reenactment
Sex offending more about anger (approx. 60%), most often towards main caretakers, rather than sexual
curiosity or stimulation (Howley).
A resistance to cultural scripts that teach girls to be passive, inexperienced, naïve, and accommodating
to boys. A rejection of cultural norms that teach girls to be silent and unaware of their sexuality.
Navigate their own desires to learn about sex. “To learn about sex in my own terms” & explore
their sexual orientation (Nancy)
They don’t have to worry about pleasing their partner; they just take instead;
They don’t have to worry about meeting their needs secondarily; their needs come first instead.
They don’t need to worry about being labeled a slut by peers; they’re not engaging sexually with peers.
They don’t need to worry about being treated as an object or being used by another; they
objectify and use someone else instead.
Protection by perpetration: They don’t have to worry about being victimized, they are instead
the victimizers. Margie “I will not be a victim or place myself in a position to be
victimized.” Protecting themselves from peer exploitation.
Victim to victimizer cycle: SEXUAL DYSREGULATION (Sigurdsson, 2010)
Attachment: Perpetrating is “often motivated by the desire to establish or maintain an emotional
relationship” (Turner & Turner, p. 41).
“Where attachment has proven unsatisfying as a source of nurturance, girls may resort to
precocious sexual involvements in a bid for attachment rather than for actual sexual gratification….
[W]here the attachment system falters, the sexual system may come into play in substitute fashion”
(Salzman, 1990).

15. Differences Girls less likely to be adjudicated.
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Differences
Girls less likely to be adjudicated.
21% had been adjudicated (Howley)
2 girls vs. 93 boys charged with a sex offense (Ray & English)
27% girls vs. 15% boys cases handled informally and 73% girls vs. 85% boys processed formally (Vandiver).
Girls more likely to be viewed as victims.
Girls are less likely to be adjudicated and are less likely to be adjudicated
for assaulting peers.
Girls more likely to enter the system as victims; boys more likely to enter the
system due to concerns about the safety of others (Ray & English).
She may perceive herself as “bad” because she has not acted in a manner
consistent with how girls are taught to behave.
The internalization of shame appears higher for girls who
sexually offend.
Parents may be less likely to understand how their daughter could have
engaged in sexually abusive behavior. They are more likely to
blame their daughter’s behavior on known or unknown sexual
victimization.

16. 6/9/2018
Differences
Boys more likely to abuse females; females more likely to abuse both genders.
Vandiver & Teske
Girls tend to be younger when they sexually abuse others. Kubik et al.; Vandiver & Teske
Victims of females are younger.
Vandiver & Teske; Finkelhor et al .
Girls more likely to be involved in incidents with multiple victims (23% vs. 12%).
Finkelhor et al.
1. Girls appear to select victims out of convenience rather than genuine preference for one gender
(V & T, 2006)
2. Girls tend to be younger when they sexually abuse others: Both comparison and descriptive
studies indicate girls tend to be younger when they sexually abuse others.
Vandiver & Teske, 2006: Females began offending earlier than males: 49% of girls in age
range; 50% boys in age range. Study of 61 juvenile females that sexually offended
compared to 122 juvenile males that sexually offended. Examined registration data. No focus of
victimization histories, lacks context of offending. Kubik et al: Sexually abusive girls committed
their first sexual offense at a younger age than the comparison group of adolescent females
(M = vs ).
Ray & English: 50% of girls were 12 years old or younger vs. 30% of boys.
Finkelhor et al. 2009: 31% younger than 12 when compared to 14% of sexually
abusive boys.
Howley: Average age of first offense was 10.65; 30% offended before age 10.
Hunter et al.: Median age of first offense was 9.5 years.
3. Victims of females are younger: This was, however, contradicted by Vandiver
(2010) who found that girls were likely to have victims closer to their own age
Whereas boys were more likely to have victims younger than themselves.
4. Girls more likely to be involved in incidents with multiple victims (23% vs. 12%) Finkelhor
et al.

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Differences
Girls often sexually abuse in caretaking roles. Bumby & Bumby
Sexually abusive girls are less likely to abuse strangers and less predatory. Finkehor et al.
More dependency issues and revictimization in their current relationships.
Girls often sexually abuse in caretaking roles. This is true for adult females as well.
Bumby & Bumby: 11 out of 12 offended while they were babysitting. None abused strangers.
Mathews et al: Females appeared more likely to offend while babysitting.
Fehrenbach & Monastersky: 67.9% of offenses occurred while babysitting. None abused strangers
The girls exhibit more dependency issues and revictimization in their current relationships.

18. 6/9/2018
Differences
Girls reasons for offending may differ from boys – relational aggression.
Girls cognitive distortions adopt more altruistic/caretaking justifications
Less use of weapons
Desire to be pregnant
Females do not abuse as much for sexual reasons as boys (Davin, 1999; Dunbar, 1999; Saradjian, 1996;
Turner &Turner, 1994). Relational aggression, dependency issues.
Altruistic/caretaking reasons/justifications:
Mallory: Offending to prepare her sister for abuse by stepfather. Stephanie: sexual contact
with sister was her fulfilling a motherly role. She was helping her sister overcome masturbation.
“I thought if she lays on top of me, I can ask her why. I wanted to help the situation and that’s
why I put her on top of me.”
Help her sister learn her private parts.

19. Typologies: Predisposed Offending
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Typologies: Predisposed Offending
They sexually offend primarily due to their own sexual abuse histories or individual/family psychopathology.
Severe abuse histories and evidence of complex trauma
Co-morbid diagnoses
Attachment and empathy deficits
Criminal orientation or exclusive sexual offending
These girls have sexual abuse histories and/or high levels of individual/family
psychopathology and are sexually offending primarily due to those origins.
Their offending behavior often mirrors the manner in which they were sexually abused.
These girls often experience multiple forms of abuse: neglect, physical violence,
sexual abuse, emotional abuse.
They may have diagnoses such as PTSD, Depression, Conduct Disorder or
Anxiety Disorder
They tend to have attachment/empathy deficits. EXAMPLE: Katie (Casey)
Deviant sexual fantasies: trauma bond pairing victimization and arousal. Sarah’s deviant fan.
or Kandalin
Characteristics: compulsive lying (24-hour polygraph; strong desire to get pregnant to feel
whole inside and they lie about it consistently; preoccupation with relational chaos;
they will push you away if you get too close; huge trust issues; promiscuity; highly
manipulative; extreme thinking; substance abuse; cutting behaviors.
Kandalin. Talk about Kandalin’s progress: motherless daughter, reflective capacities.

20. Typologies: Experimenting/ Exploiting
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Typologies: Experimenting/ Exploiting
Their primary motivation is sexual curiosity.
Less likely to have abuse history
Crime of opportunity
Low levels of psychopathology
Lack social skills and prior sexual experiences
Naïve
Experimenting/Exploiting:
These girls may have sexual abuse histories but their abuse histories appear
secondary to their primary motivation, sexual curiosity.
This is opportunistic offending which often occurs while babysitting or when
around younger family members.
These girls typically have low levels of psychopathology.
They lack social skills and fear their own sexuality. They are naïve/lack prior
sexual experience.They may be shy and possess low self-esteem, poor body
image.
Their offense is not about intimacy as much as attaining sexual experience.
EXAMPLE: Christina/Klarice

21. Typologies: Peer-Influenced Offending
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Typologies: Peer-Influenced Offending
Offending due to pressure from peers or group involvement.
Unassertive, dependent, easily influenced
Least likely form of sexual offending for females (or is it?)
Recent research shows this is more common than it is with sexually abusive
boys.
Female ring leaders: ganging up on an unliked girl; she may exhibit callous,
unemotional traits.
Queen Bee and Wanabee dynamic
EXAMPLE: Sarah (Sabrina) as well as share Maggie’s (Brittany R.) case.

22. 6/9/2018
Recent Studies
Females more likely than males to offend with others (36% vs. 23%) as well as with adults (13% vs. 5%)
Finkelhor, Omrod, & Chaffin (2009)
52% of the girls had at least one co-offender vs. 19% of boys.
Vandiver (2010)
Social amplification occurs when girls offend with a co-offender. This is not the same for boys.
F, O, & C: They were, however, more likely to be considered victims at the same time they were
offending by investigators. This seems consistent with adult female offenders who are male coerced or
male accompanied offenders (active and passive accomplices).
Vandiver (2010): N=177 juvenile boys compared with n=177 juvenile girls.
For those who acted alone, she was more likely (than boys or girls acting with a
co-offender) to have a male victim. Girls were more likely to be involved in “rings” at least two
and up to nine co-offenders.
The girls with co-offenders differ substantially from girls that act alone. When
girls act with another person, the dynamics of the offending change, and typically
include more serious factors. Co-offenders were significantly more likely to have
multiple victims and more likely to have a female victim and those with a co-offender
were more likely arrested for rape. Boys were significantly older when arrested than the girls.
Many of the girls may be involved in crimes that generate money; the motivation for these
girls may be economic, rather than emotional or sexual based.
Hendriks & Bijleveld (2006): Sample of 20 girls from 11 to 18. Netherlands. Most girls
committed their offense with one or more co-offenders. In most cases, considerable force
was used.

23. 6/9/2018
Assessment
Best practice is based on a thorough understanding of female development and the research on sexually abusive girls.
Greater reliance on self-report
Hunter & Mathews, 1997
Pay close attention to the more subtle and covert behaviors, and internalization responses, in addition to their more overt behavioral problems.
Best practice is based on a thorough understanding of female development and
the research conducted thus far on sexually abusive girls.
Greater reliance on self-report. Hunter & Mathews, 1997
Pay close attention to the more subtle and covert behaviors, and
internalization responses, in addition to their more overt behavioral problems.

24. 6/9/2018
Assessment Continued
Relational development, female identity, attachment styles
Sexual functioning
Mental health/internalization
Offending behavior
History of maltreatment
History of conduct disordered behavior and/or relational aggression?
Unhealthy or healthy female role models? Dynamics of mother-daughter relationship?
Perceived maternal loss? Is she in abusive relationships? Is her identity inchoate, formulated and
stable, or disorganized? Does she easily change her identity based on whom she is with and what
she perceives others want her to be? (Chameleon identity) Does she voice and assert herself or does
she possess a more passive orientation? What relational losses has she experienced?
Sexual Functioning: Is she sexually passive and an object for others or does she
take ownership of her sexuality? Reproductive health; Sexual knowledge pertaining to self; Desire
to get pregnant; Unsafe sexual behavior; Body image
Mental Health: Suicidal ideation/behaviors; Depression; Self-mutilation; Eating disorders
Offending Bx: Motivation - Sex = love; Trauma re-enactment; Relational aggression: Who was
she wanting to hurt? Type of cognitive distortions; Typology; Pathway to offending
History of Maltreatment: Female perpetrator? Negative outcome to disclosure? PTSD symptoms?
In Johnson’s study: not one of the children received a positive response from
their disclosure of being victimized.
Conduct disordered behavior: manipulative patterns? Pattern of persistent using of
others and disregarding their feelings (The “Me, me, me syndrome.”)
Persistent/compulsive lying?

25. Clinical Needs/Treatment Goals
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Clinical Needs/Treatment Goals
Process and integrate complex trauma history, if applicable.
Build an empathy bridge from her victimization to her perpetration.
Work on identity formation and self concept.
Develop healthy relational patterns.
Balance personal needs with the needs of her relationships.
Gender-Responsive Treatment:
Includes developing gender-responsive management, and understanding the unique risk and
protective factors, distinctive developmental pathways to crime and delinquency, and
fundamental differences between genders (CSOM, 2007).
Address and process victimization histories; overcome victim identities. Understand the
relationship between victimization and perpetration. Trauma experience integration.
Develop self-concept/identity formation: Girls who offend tend to have a poor sense of
themselves. They present like chameleons, changing depending on what environment they
are in and with whom they are associating. Developing an authentic/true self also involves
reducing any chameleon tendencies.
Develop healthy relational patterns and healthy boundaries. Build social skills and increase
social supports. Explore difficulties of trusting others and encourage them to take risks to
trust. Reduce preoccupation with relational chaos.

26. Clinical Needs/Treatment Goals
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Clinical Needs/Treatment Goals
Establish a voice of her own.
Develop healthy sexual subjectivity.
Develop self-esteem and self-care strategies.
Address loss and abandonment.
Address comorbid diagnoses.
Eliminate self-destructive behaviors, e.g., cutting, bingeing.
Improve her internal working model.
She finds her voice and is able to assert herself. Kristen: Allowing herself to get into a relationship
with a female when she is strictly heterosexual. Important implications and relates to risk of
revictimization and offending. Trauma and the brain: Females, more so than males, engage in a
freeze/surrender response which is a dissociative adaptation. Self-defense classes.
Learn about female sexuality and develop a healthy sexual self. She develops a healthy female
sexual self and learns about arousal and desire, birth control, STDs. Lack of sexual knowledge is
pervasive with these and many of the women. Girls: early pregnancy.
Develop self-esteem and self-care strategies. Grounding and mindfulness strategies,
regulation capacities, distress tolerance skills, setting limits with others. One meta-analysis found
association between female offenders’ low self-esteem and antisocial behavior (Larivriere, 1999).
Address comorbid diagnoses: Depression, PTSD, Adjustment Disorder,
substance abuse, BPD. In one study these diagnoses were nearly 4x the rates of men
(Blume, 1997).

27. Clinical Needs/Treatment Goals
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Clinical Needs/Treatment Goals
Identify healthy female role models.
Address family dynamics and parenting issues, if applicable.
Identify healthy female role models for these girls.
Address family dynamics: increase attunement, trust, and
communication with girl and her caregivers. Emotional emancipation if needed.

28. 6/9/2018
Therapeutic Process
Therapeutic alliance built on respect, feeling heard, and supported
Work on a relational level
Clear consistent boundaries
Strengths-based and holistic approaches
Collaboration vs. confrontation
Respecting survival strategies
Dual specialization: trauma informed and offense specific
Weedon, 2011
Therapeutic alliance built on respect, feeling heard, and supported
Work on a relational level
Provide clear consistent boundaries instead of loosey-goosey boundaries in
the service of the relationship
Strengths-based and holistic approaches
Collaboration vs. confrontation
Respecting survival strategies as adaptations to prior trauma
Dual specialization: trauma-informed and offense-specific (Weedon, 2011)

29. In sum…. Don’t give up on these girls..
6/9/2018
In sum….
Don’t give up on these girls..
Listen. Don’t assume the dynamics are the same with females.
Don’t apply a one size fits all model.
Role model respect with every interaction.
Respect their need for a relationship.
Don’t give up on these girls: Many of them expect this and at times, create
circumstances to push you away.
Expect their need for relationship as well as their need to process.

30. 6/9/2018
Susan Robinson
25 Wentworth Drive Williston, Vermont x17