**1. Introduction**

An experience of sexual abuse in childhood is known to be associated with negative emotional, psychological, health/physical, and educational repercussions. Internationally, research suggests that the repercussions may be immediate and/or long term (Finkelhor, 1979; 1984; 1988, 1984; Sgroi, 1982). Similar findings were evident in South African studies (Russell, 1995; Collings, 1995, Madu & Peltzer, 2001, Human Rights Watch, 2001). Studies have gone further to reveal that some survivors turn out to be resilient (Barbarin, Ritcher & de Wet, 2003; van Rensburg & Barnard, 2005). The suggestion thereof is that survivors cope with the problem in different ways which may or may not be detrimental to their development.

This chapter will focus on strategies which some of the young survivors of child sexual abuse utilised to cope with their experiences and emotions associated with it. Coping strategies warrant a deeper understanding for the sake of helping survivors heal the wounds created by an experience of child sexual abuse, to prevent chances of revictimization, and to facilitate wellness. For the purpose of this chapter, coping refers to a conscious process for managing a problem and regulating the attendant emotion (Gipple, Lee & Puig, 2006).
