One of the hardest behaviors for parents to come to terms with is a daughter's sexual acting out. Today's parents are justified in their worry about protecting their daughters from exposure to easily accessible sexual content and choices that their daughters are not yet mature enough to make. Many of the girls we work with at La Europa have engaged in inappropriate sexual behaviors but not necessarily physical sexual behaviors. This includes viewing inappropriate sexual content, "sexting", connecting in a sexually suggestive way with people on the internet and other dangerous actions.
At La Europa, we believe this is one of the most important areas for intervention with young women due to the ease with which they can engage in behavior that is beyond their developmental ability to cope and that can have serious and life-threatening consequences. La Europa is on the cutting edge of treatment in providing clinical services to address this issue with young women and help them not only gain insight into their own choices but also gain an understanding of the larger ramifications of this high risk behavior.
We use the term "Sexual Reactivity" to include relationships and sexual behaviors that are in reaction to what the student is experiencing on an emotional and "core issues" level. We do not accept students whose sexual acting out has included any type of predatory behavior. This program is strictly designed for girls who have been caught up in unhealthy relationship patterns that may or may not have involved physical sexual behaviors.
Our specific program will help girls:
- Understand the choices they have made around unhealthy relationships and/or sexual behavior
- Connect this to core issue the student is struggling with
- Understand the role of victim and the use of acting out behaviors to gain power
- Identify what is appropriate behavior in a relationship
- Understand the dynamics and ramifications of the internet and sexting
- Learn about co-dependency and how these patterns can play out in relationships
- Develop a sense of their own personal values and identity
- Identify what intimacy really means and how to achieve this
- Learn about boundaries and practice assertiveness skills