CORE assessment of adult survivors abused as children:A NAPAC group therapy evaluation

Abstract

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to provide the first formal evaluation of a unique 12‐session group therapy programme developed by the UK‐based National Association for People Abused as Children (NAPAC).MethodThe therapy outcomes of this programme were assessed using the CORE‐OM tool. Clients comprised 26 individuals (7 males and 19 females), with an age range of 19–67 (mean = 41; SD = 12.76). Clients were survivors of sexual, physical, emotional or neglectful childhood abuse, or a combination of these, and were from four different locations: London (n = 9), Bury (n = 4), Belfast (n = 8) and prison (n = 5).FindingsAcross all CORE domains, improvements were shown from pre‐ to post‐therapy. No gender or age differences were revealed, and improvements were shown across both community members and prison inmates.ImplicationsA person‐centred approach to group therapy is beneficial to a wide range of adult clients within the community and prison settings that require therapy after historical sexual, physical, emotional or neglectful childhood abuse.