Making child abuse victims aware of their victimization: a treatment issue.

Recent research has identified abuse victims who lack a perception of themselves as having been abused. It is common among professionals to heighten the awareness of abuse victims as either a goal or a byproduct of the investigation-treatment process. Implications of this practice are explored in light of knowledge regarding psychological aftereffects of abuse, particularly in relation to the self-image of the victim. Guidelines are suggested for when it may be advisable to heighten awareness during treatment, and when it should be avoided.