Sexual abuse is the most prominent factor. Girls may also be the children of substance abusers, have a history of emotional and psychological abuse, lack adult supervision, or have a lesbian orientation. Treatment begins with assessment and orientation. At this stage, many girls express resistance and denial of problems. She can advance by setting manageable, incremental goals for herself and reaching them.
Girls earn rewards only through their own hard work, commitment, dedication, and goal setting.
They are also taught to recognize and appreciate their own resilience and strengths. Girls who have been substance abusers may need to fill gaps in their development. The program targets skills that are significant in substance-abuse recovery, especially social skills. Staff members model these skills, and girls who have progressed in therapy are also encouraged to act as positive peer mentors. Caritas House has found group therapy to be especially useful in working with adolescent girls, who are more likely than boys to share their feelings and relate with one another in group settings.