By Mary Beth Marino

Second In A Series

There are 1.6 million children abused each year.

Two thousand of these 1.6 million die.

The shocking statistic reveals that 10 out of every 1000 children are abused in the United States.

These startling facts were researched and compiled by a clinical psychologist, David W. Raque, Ph.D., P.C. an individual, couple and family therapist.

“There are several types of child abuse,” the pipesmoking, bearded therapist explained.

In his tastefully decorated Stone Mountain office, the therapist elevated his feet, cleared his throat, and in a soft spoken voice, unraveled the hard-core facts about child abuse.

“The most obvious form of child abuse is physical,” Dr. Raque said.

“Reported incidents of physical abuse are not only obvious, but identifiable. When a victim has old and new bruises, bruises on the face, has been kicked, burned or scalded, or is physically thrown or hit with an instrument, all indications are obviously abuse, regardless of the degree of the injury,” Raque explained.

“Another form of abuse is sexual,” the informed therapist remarked.

There are primarily two types of sexual abuse, non-assaultive and assaultive. In the non-assaultive cases the abuse is generally a family member. Assaultive cases involve injury and severe emotional trauma at the onset and are generally inflicted by members outside of the family unit.

“Neglect is another form of abuse. In these cases, the child is deprived of medical attention, proper nourishment, clothing, shelter and supervision,” Dr. Raque explained.

But emotional abuse seems to be the hardest to define and prove.

“Emotional abuse is very hard to prosecute,” Raque said. “You don’t have tangible evidence or dramatic effects such as bruises and lacerations.”

According to Dr. Raque, failure to provide a loving environment where a child can learn and be nurtured results in activating potential child abusers.

If emotional abuse is not treated, physical abuse will continue to increase. Emotional abuse will eventually trigger physical abuse in most cases.

The Stone Mountain therapist notes that each case of child abuse must be treated individually.

“I had a foster care case which involved a five-year-old girl,” Raque said. “She was a very bright girl, affectionate, and by all indications, healthy. She was apparently exposed to her parents’ sexual activities. After a neighbor reported the incident, the child was taken away from the parents.”

“The parents later got a divorce,” the doctor continued, “and the mother tried to regain custody of the girl. The court said an emphatic no!”

Raque was counseling the mother and found her to be a loving and concerned parent responding to therapy.

Now this individual case warrants a delicate judgement call, according to Dr. Raque.

“Considering the child’s welfare, there are a couple of traumas to consider here,” said the thoughtful therapist. “For example, are the consequences of the past sexual abuse more traumatic than the trauma of the girl not living with her biological mother?”

While not condoning incest or sexual abuse, Dr. Raque feels agencies sometimes overreact to the magnitude of the crime as opposed to supporting rehabilitative action with mandated treatment.

“Our own societal views are uncomfortable in dealing with sexual abuse,” the physician stated with empathy.

It was obvious this 37-year-old therapist was sensitive to the many factors still unrecognized by society in dealing with child abuse issues.

“I cannot stress enough that treatment should involve the whole family,” the doctor stated emphatically.

“Parents need to be involved with other parents who share this common problem – they need a support system,” the concerned therapist said.

Reportedly children most likely to be physically abused are infants or pre-school age children, due to the fact that they are dependent, demanding, defenseless and non-verbal.

Doctor Raque stated that the optimal time to identify potential abusers is before the birth of a baby or immediately after. Stress is apparently more obvious at this time and telltale signs are obvious. Physicians should be alerted to ask themselves the following questions:

1. Are parents overly concerned about the sex of a baby?
2. Are parents worried about standards or expectations that will be required from the child?
3. Does the mother deny the pregnancy?
4. Will the child be considered “one too many” for the family?
5. Is the mother depressed about being pregnant?
6. Is the family isolated from neighbors and friends?
7. Has one or both parents talked about giving up the child?

The Georgia Council of Child Abuse contends the physician’s role in dealing with child abuse would involve making a personal commitment to becoming educated, alerted and action-oriented in helping to combat child abuse.

Medical professionals, health agencies, community groups, schools, legal agencies, and basically all communities, need to be educated and strive toward combating this social disease together.

From a clinical viewpoint, there is hope and support for those who seek help.

And let’s face it, helping the child is what it’s all about anyway.