Promoting Resilience in Adult Female Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
Program Description
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a serious and pervasive problem for women, with research
showing that approximately 20-25% of American women will survive this type of trauma. Many
women struggle with the impact of CSA well into adulthood, but may present for treatment with
secondary mental health issues, including depression, conflict in intimate or interpersonal
relationships, substance abuse, personality disorders, eating disorders or chronic pain. This
training applies the evidence-based intervention of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to the
mental health problems with which CSA survivors often struggle as adults. We will also touch
upon the benefits of using mindfulness and DBT-informed strategies to help CSA survivors in
their practice toward recovery and resilience.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this workshop, participants should be able to:
 Explain how the various psychological and physical health effects of CSA are manifested in
the adult female client
 Discuss how cognitive-behavioral theory can be used as an explanatory theory and an
intervention among adult survivors of child sexual abuse
 Examine crucial components in the treatment of trauma
 Identify coping skills that are useful in promoting resilience
 Describe the key cognitive-behavioral strategies for identifying and modifying survivors’
unhelpful cognitions, including the use of homework
 Recognize the importance of self-care for mental health and substance abuse professionals
who work with child sexual abuse survivors
Target Audience
Mental health and substance abuse professionals working with adult female clients will benefit
from this training.
Contact Hours
5.5 hours
Program Agenda (Two 15-minute breaks will be included)
8:30 am
Registration
9:00 am
Program Begins
12:00 pm
Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm
Program Resumes
4:00 pm
Adjournment
Kate Gotelli, LCSW, SEP is a psychotherapist and owner of her solo practice, Mindful
Awakening, PLLC in Chapel Hill. She is a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, a Certified
EMDR Therapist, and a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator. Kate specializes in psychotherapy
with adults and has 20 years of clinical experience in behavioral healthcare services. Her
interests focus on trauma resolution, shame resilience and wholehearted living. She runs weekly
groups and intensives in The Daring Way™ and Rising Strong™ based on the research of Brené
Brown. Kate also provides clinical consultation and supervision to other licensed mental health
professionals. She has presented at several workshops in North Carolina on the topics of trauma,
treatment of adult female survivors of sexual abuse, anger management, mindful parenting,
HIV/AIDS, healthy relationships and women’s wellness.