חוויותיהן של יועצות ערביות המתמודדות עם חשיפה של פגיעה מינית בילדים בעת תפקידן

Educational counselors play a central role in identifying and responding to cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) and in promoting students’ well-being and sense of safety in schools. This study examines the experiences of Arab educational counselors coping with disclosures of child sexual abuse in the course of their professional work. Fourteen Arab counselors working in elementary schools and with substantial experience in addressing CSA cases participated in in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis identified three main themes: (1) encounters with socio-cultural attitudes that minimize or silence sexual abuse; (2) the development of personal and professional coping strategies in relation to ʿayb (social shame); and (3) counselors’ roles as agents of change in challenging taboos and prejudice within the school and community. The findings highlight the counselors’ unique position at the intersection of cultural and professional worlds, enabling them to adopt a broad perspective and to initiate meaningful change in school responses to child sexual abuse. The study concludes with recommendations for culturally sensitive counselor training to strengthen professional practice in this field.