You can help a child in need.
No child is ever turned away due to a family's inability to pay.

(760) 340-2336
24 Hours PST

Signs Of Child Abuse

What is Child Abuse?

Physical abuse:
Includes beating, burning or punching a child.

Emotional abuse:
May involve criticizing, insulting, rejecting or withholding love from a child.

Sexual abuse:
Includes rape, touching/fondling or involving a child in pornography.

Neglect:
Includes failure to provide for a child's basic physical, emotional or educational needs. (Leaving a young child home alone or failing to provide needed medical care may be considered neglect.)

Symptoms of Abuse

Common Behavioral & Emotional Indicators of Abuse

Children who seek counseling exhibit many of the following PRESENTING SYMPTOMS*. One of the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center at Eisenhower's goals is to address these symptoms, when they are the result of abuse, and work toward positive feelings and reduced symptoms. Both sets, along with other indicators, assist clinicians when assessing and implementing a client's individually planned counseling program and progress.

Presenting Symptoms

Bed-wetting
Sleep disturbances/nightmares
Temper tantrums
Social Withdrawal
Aggressive behavior:
- Biting
- Pinching
- Hitting
- Fighting
Drugs/Alcohol abuse
Fearfulness
Depression
Low self-esteem
Poor academic performance
Headaches/stomachaches
Poor hygiene
Inappropriate sexual play or behavior
Regressive behaviors
Crying without provocation
Flashbacks/Self-inflicted injuries
Anxiety
Inadequate awareness of personal/social boundaries

After Intervention

Reduction of bed-wetting
Improved sleep
Bonding
Increased communication skills
No use of drugs or alcohol
Improved academics
Less fearful
Increased self-esteem
Improved grooming
Dissipation of headaches/ stomachaches
Improved hygiene
Improved social skills
Enhanced self-confidence
Positive outlook on the future/hopefulness
Empowerment for self-protection
Establish appropriate boundaries

*Presenting Symptoms behaviors do not expressly indicate abuse has occurred. If there is concern a child may be in an abusive situation, assistance should be sought from law enforcement or a child abuse professional.

Seven Year Old Female

A seven year old female client at the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center created this black and white drawing during her first counseling session. Anger and rage jump from the page – fierce piercing eyes, flowing tears, gnashed teeth and severe close-cropped hair combine to depict emphatic distress and anxiety.

It is notable that the child selected a dark pencil with which to work, and that the figure she draws is not anchored to the ground, but appears to be floating and unsecure.

Her case history reveals an out-of-control child. She reveals herself to be young girl who feels helpless upon witnessing repeated domestic violence between her parents. Her parents did not demonstrate remorse or concern for the on-going trauma they were causing their daughter to suffer.

The drawing appears to show a figure in a running mode, possibly attempting to escape a tortuous home life. The father figure to her right is distorted and incomplete, yet is a threatening presence, with a deeply penetrating and frightening stare. He is depicted yelling the child's name.

In the drawing, the child, our client, reacts with fear and anger, two emotions that are being addressed in her therapy sessions.