Power-mapping—II. Practical application: the example of child sexual abuse

Some of the problems associated with the phenomena of child sexual abuse (CSA) are considered from the perspective of the ‘terrain of power’ (see Hagan and Smail, 1997) in which individuals are located, and the use of power-mapping is exemplified by means of a single-case study. Group work with survivors of CSA currently being developed in Sheffield is described, throwing into relief the way in which the misuse of power, both past and present, is at the core of their difficulties, and showing how models of helping need to attempt directly to increase powers and resources available to clients.