Provide Counseling & Support to Sexually Abused

In September, our team was contacted by the police to help provide psychological counseling and social work support for a 16-year-old girl. She became a victim of online sexual exploitation and revenge porn. The perpetrator distributed her images to classmates at school, and eventually someone reported it to a teacher. As a result, she was forced to leave school and has been unable to continue her education.

The impact on her life has been devastating. She began harming herself repeatedly, and the pain extended beyond her alone—her parents have also suffered deeply as they watched their daughter endure such trauma.

Our team became involved from the very beginning, supporting the fact-finding process and ensuring that she could meet with our psychologist on a weekly basis. I met her on the first day she came to provide information, in my role as a child interviewer. From the start, this case was particularly challenging. The main evidence account had already been closed, and we received no support or information from her former school, which made the investigation extremely difficult.

The first two months were especially hard. Therapy was difficult to begin because she held on tightly to one hope: that the offender would be punished. At the same time, she did not want to take the medication prescribed by a psychiatrist because the side effects made everyday life even more difficult for her.

However, through the dedication of our counseling and social work teams, as well as the strong cooperation from her parents—who brought her to every weekly appointment on time—she slowly began to stabilize.

In early December, I received an update from our team that the investigation might have to be terminated. The evidence had become too weak, and it might not be sufficient to request a search warrant. Our social work team was also concerned that if we informed the family at that stage, it could severely affect the girl’s mental health and cause her to spiral again.

At that moment, I asked myself and our team:

“Have we truly done enough before we decide to end this investigation?”

I arranged another meeting with the girl and asked her parents to join, hoping to gather more information. That day, I noticed she looked brighter than when I first met her. I spoke to her honestly, explaining that her case was extremely challenging. She paused, and then said something that left me speechless:

“I just saw my friend posting congratulations because he got into university… while I’m still like this.”

That single sentence captured the full weight of what she had lost—not only her safety and dignity, but also her future and her sense of normal teenage life. I told her that we would take her information back to our team, re-evaluate the case, and do everything possible to pursue justice for her.

After that, our team met again with the police and also consulted with the prosecutor for guidance. Once everyone heard how deeply the victim was still suffering, we agreed that we would continue to try our very best to bring justice to her—because while the offender continues living normally, she and her family have been living in ongoing pain.

We have now divided responsibilities and set a date to meet again after the New Year to assess progress and next steps. Although the investigation has not yet reached a successful conclusion, something important has happened: she has regained more determination and hope to keep living.

This progress would not be possible without the commitment and compassion of our counseling team and social workers. Their steady support, weekly sessions, and trauma-informed approach have been essential in helping her move forward little by little—especially as the legal process remains difficult and uncertain. Healing takes time, and without ongoing emotional support, the burden of this case could become unbearable for a young survivor.

We also want to express our deep gratitude to the police in Region 5 for taking this case seriously and working alongside us with care and professionalism.

Finally, to our donors—thank you. Your support makes it possible for HUG Project to provide counseling and social work services not only for this survivor, but also for many other children and families who are navigating the trauma of exploitation and abuse. Because of you, survivors are not alone. Your generosity brings real help, real protection, and real hope.

Please keep this case in your prayers, that justice will be done—and that this young girl and her family will one day experience full healing, restoration, and peace.

Background

In July, the HUG Project, in collaboration with the Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security, responded to a case involving a girl who had been sexually exploited by her stepfather. The abuse involved secretly recording images of the child while she was bathing. The incident was discovered by the mother, who found the images on her husband’s mobile phone.

Intervention

Upon receiving the report, HUG Project’s social worker acted immediately to:

• Conduct fact-finding and assess the circumstances of the case.
• Collect key evidence, as both the girl and her mother expressed their intention to pursue legal action.
• Provide emergency psychosocial support to both the victim and her mother.

During the assessment, the mother showed visible signs of panic, anxiety, and stress as she faced the reality of pursuing justice against a family member. The girl, deeply affected, began taking sleeping pills due to excessive worry, nightmares, and inability to rest. Her demeanor shifted from cheerful and outgoing to withdrawn and isolated.

Support Provided:

HUG Project’s social worker offered comprehensive counseling and guidance, including:

• Referral to a hospital psychiatrist for psychological evaluation and treatment for both mother and daughter.
• Counseling for the mother on communication, emotional support, and resilience-building within the family.
• Guidance on self-care, stress management, and family planning for daily routines after the incident.
• Legal counseling to prepare the family for the judicial process.
• Continuous follow-up, emotional support, and regular check-ins.

The mother, who had previously worked in another province, was supported in relocating and finding work locally to remain with her daughter and ensure the family’s safety.

Statistics (2025)

In 2025, HUG Project provided a total of 51 counseling sessions to this family and others in similar circumstances, delivered through multiple modalities to ensure accessibility and continuous care:

• 18 face-to-face sessions
• 15 online sessions
• 18 telephone calls

 This multi-modal approach ensured consistent follow-up, flexible communication, and tailored psychosocial care based on the family’s needs.

Impact and Outcomes

• The victim and her mother are now receiving psychiatric care and ongoing social work support.
• Both have gradually begun to adjust, showing improved coping skills and resilience.
• The family has relocated for safety, and the mother has prioritized full-time care for her daughter.
• The interventions provided reassurance, reduced isolation, and gave the family a sense of stability and hope.

Conclusion

This case illustrates the critical role of HUG Project and its partners in responding swiftly and compassionately to cases of child sexual exploitation. Through counseling, legal guidance, and continuous psychosocial support, the victim and her family are on a path toward recovery and reintegration into daily life.

Acknowledgment

HUG Project extends our heartfelt thanks to our donors for their generous support. Your contributions make it possible for us to respond rapidly to urgent cases, provide life-saving psychosocial interventions, and accompany families through the long journey of healing and justice. Together, we are building safer, more supportive communities for children and families.