Latence en question : quelle phase de latence pour les enfants victimes de violence ?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to define ways in which abusive families may be treated: physical, psychological and often sexual violence occurs when incest is perpetrated by an adult. The patients are young children for whose period of latency has been stopped. We meet them with their non-abusive parents. The abusive parents are followed separately. These families are sent to our “Centre des Buttes-de-Chaumont” in Paris by the Child Protection Agency, judges, colleagues or social workers. After more than 20 years experience, we have put in place a systemic network therapy which implicates two specialist therapists, and the presence of social workers, psychologists and any other person with a protective interest in children's rights. This shows the importance of our work in coordination with the civil and penal jurisdictions. The results are very positive in most situations thanks to the accompaniment of the child until the abuser concerned is prosecuted. These children are able, after years of self-sacrifice, self-devaluation and fear, to enjoy a better body-image and a more coherent psycho-affective future. They are no longer ashamed to live. An individual therapy will later be helpful. A statistical study is now being elaborated.