The healing process of female adult incest survivors: constructing a personal residence.

This study generated a descriptive theoretical framework of the healing process of adult survivors of incest based on the perceptions of 11 survivors who had experienced some degree of healing. The core variable that emerged from the data was labeled "constructing a personal residence" to reflect the participants' descriptions of their experiences as laborious, active and constructive. The process of constructing a residence included three main elements: building a new relationship with the self; regulating one's relationships with others; and influencing the community in a meaningful way.