Nonverbal Forms of Communication that Can Be Used in...

Introduction It can be easy to take words for granted. The simple act of communicating needs and desires to other human-beings is an almost automatic action. While communication may seem simple, there are instances where the most common methods of communication are not enough. Children who have been abused often lack the verbal language skills needed to convey the horror of what has happened to them (Scheeringa, Weems, Cohen, Amaya-Jackson, Guthrie, 2011). In 2011 alone, over 61,000 cases of child sexual abuse were reported in the United States of America (U.S. Department of Health Human Services, 2011). The number that was reported is staggering enough without factoring in how many were NOT reported. Child sexual abuse is such an epidemic that the Center for Disease Control has done research and studies on child sexual abuse and created manuals about how to prevent it (Centers for Disease Control, 2007). This is an issue that we all need to address, as well as the fact that Traum a-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), the most widely used treatment method for children who have been sexually abused, is not sufficient by itself. This essay will discuss some nonverbal forms of communication that can be used in building a therapeutic relationship, as well as a safe environment for young children who have been sexually abused, and the need for the inclusion of Art Therapy and Play Therapy in TF-CBT as a way for children to communicate their Trauma Narrative