RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of mental health professionals counseling young survivors of sexual abuse in the Cayman Islands; how they navigated challenges in their experiences and sustained themselves through their work with young survivors of sexual abuse. DESIGN AND METHODS: The present study incorporated a qualitative approach using a phenomenological design to elicit a description of the experiences of mental health professionals who counseled young survivors of sexual abuse in the Cayman Islands. Five mental health professionals were recruited using purposive sampling methods. Semi-structured interviews were facilitated to answer the research questions centered on describing their experiences in counseling young survivors of sexual abuse in the Cayman Islands. Data analysis resulted in four core themes that described their lived experiences as notably punctuated with both significant systemic challenges and significant posttraumatic growth. RESULTS: The findings indicated that mental health professionals compensated for the systemic influences such as patriarchal belief systems and oppressive and complicit attitudes objectifying children by diversifying and expanding their interventions. CONCLUSION: The present study supported recent literature from the Caribbean region that described the embedded oppressive belief systems and traditional patriarchal attitudes that have perpetuated abusive treatment of children. Furthermore, the study provided a greater understanding of mental health professionals experiences in the Cayman Islands that also supported expanding the scope of the mental health professions to include social justice and advocacy efforts.
