Much has been and continues to be written about the effects of sexual abuse on the primary victim. Less, however, has been written on the effects on the family of sexual abuse survivors and those close to the primary victim. Siblings tend to be overlooked in terms of the impact of abuse on the overall family structure, system, and dynamics. Siblings of abuse victims have been referred to as “indirect victims,” “invisible victims,” and/or “secondary victims.” A secondary victim is someone who experiences the feelings and impact of trauma without directly experiencing the trauma itself (Schmidt, 2015).

 

There is a trauma impact from learning of trauma that has happened to a close family member. When this trauma impact is unacknowledged, it can become disenfranchised. The term disenfranchised grief is defined as grief that either is not, or cannot be, openly acknowledged, socially validated, or publicly supported. Disenfranchised grief is usually the result of social stigma attached to a loss (Corr, 1998; Doka, 2002). Trauma may also go unacknowledged and/or unvalidated because the person who is traumatized (e.g., sexual assault, domestic violence) may fear that others will not understand, or that others may minimize their traumatic experience (Hall & Hall, 2017; Rife, 2009).

 

This article will review a case study, which will include a description of the impact on indirect victims to the traumatic event, as well as the experienced process of integrating the effects of the secondary trauma.

 

 

 

 

 

We propose that, in addition to caring for victims of primary abuse, practitioners must also work with indirect victims of disenfranchised trauma and their families. A therapeutic framework would include advocacy, assistance, acknowledgment, and validation. Application of these concepts may help foster a trusting and safe environment in the care of all who have been impacted by the experience of trauma.  

 

 

Advocates should be aware that, beyond the care of the primary victim of trauma, other affected family members will likely need supportive measures that should include, but not be limited to, attention to their individual needs, opportunities for therapy, support and intervention, and information. It is often the case that siblings tend to serve as support systems for one another. Such sibling support is likely to continue and heighten after a trauma has been revealed.

 

In general, siblings are kept out of the circle of immediate care and support. The needs of siblings, who are exposed to the direct trauma of their family member, tend to be overlooked. Supportive assistance may involve helping the secondary victims to weave their experience of trauma into a cohesive story that encompasses their lived experience. The therapeutic goal is to establish a trusting, healing relationship in which transparency, honesty, and openness between the secondary victim and caring adults are encouraged. “The therapeutic relationship is the soil that enables the techniques to take root” (Lazarus, 2016). Such encouragement will contribute to the positive development of a strong therapeutic alliance and strengthened family bonds, which both serve as important protective factors for the child (Firestone, 2016).

 

 

 

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Jonathan Singer of the Social Work Podcast wrote the foreword to this book, and he said, "Danna pays attention to life’s details with a psychotherapist’s insight and writes about them with the passion of a slam poet. She speaks to the soul of social work and inspires us to think about more than just social work."