Research as Clinical Practice: Creating a Positive Research Experience for Survivors of Sexual Abuse by Professionals

A team of practitioners created a research process that we hoped would be educational and healing for survivors of sexual abuse by professionals. In order to look at the impact of the study, we included a follow-up debriefing questionnaire designed to gather data about respondents' experiences. Nearly all respondents found the study both helpful and difficult. The potential for research to be educational or healing is demonstrated by these findings. The fact that research on trauma is likely to be painful or upsetting even when it is helpful to respondents underscores the importance of making potential risks of participation very clear.