Mandatory reporting of child abuse might have sparked the recent rise in new cases, but the depth of the problem is surely revealed by the numbers of adult victims seeking therapy from the Women's Resource Centre (WRC).

In the last six months the charity has seen a sharp rise in adults visiting their Reid Street base for help in dealing with emotional and physical devastation wrought, often by those they trusted most.

And still more come for help with other issues, only to reveal later during counselling, their unhappy childhood secrets.

WRC Chairperson Penny Dill says: "We're seeing the effect that childhood sex abuse is having on people and they are now coming forward as adults.

"In the first half of this year 17 percent of the people coming to us have been molested or sexually abused as children.

"This is the first time we've recorded such a high percentage."

The damage reveals itself in many ways including stress-related symptoms such as headaches, tension, ulcers, fatigue, backache and gastrointestinal problems.

Counsellor Donna Trott says: "Some develop psychosomatic illnesses which puzzle doctors who can find nothing wrong with them.

"Some have explosive tempers, they suffer from excessive irritability and low tolerance. Some become promiscuous while some end up fearing intimacy."

And the emotional toll will affect their relationships in adult life.

Ms Dill says: "We find a lot of people who have been abused as children in their teenage years are susceptible to becoming victims of sexual assault.

"They are more prone to be victims and pick people likely to continue to abuse them. It's like the domestic violence cycle.

Councillor Kathy Harriott explains: "Their boundaries seem to be unclear, they don't always recognise when they are in danger of rape or sexual assault.

"The meanings they attach to people's behaviour aren't accurate so they don't get out of a place that might be dangerous for them.

"They lose self-esteem. There's a lot of self-blame. They think `maybe I don't deserve better than this', but it's not a conscious thought."

And when self-respect plummets victims sometimes look for an easy outlet.

Counsellor Kathy Harriott says: "Addictions are an outcome as people try to cope with the feelings of anxiety and depression.

"Some people overwork, they bury themselves in it. It may look like a socially acceptable response but it's not necessarily healthy.

"Some people can't work at all because of the depression and anxiety."

The memories can be buried deep until they reach crisis point. A traumatic event can bring it all back, sometimes it's nothing related to the abuse.

"Sometimes people reach the point where they are overwhelmed by depression and anxiety, they can't keep it in the box anymore," says Ms Harriott.

Parenthood is also more difficult for the victims of sexual abuse.

Ms Trott says: "They won't know where the limits should lie or how to show the child who's boss. A child wants to be safe, it doesn't want to be in charge.

"If the parent isn't emotionally available there are all kinds of consequences for the child, with problems in school, socially, with aggression.

"They might not want to hear the child's feelings because it will awaken their own emotions."

Building back shattered self esteem is the key to helping adults cope with their traumatic past, a strategy that requires a softly, softly approach.

Ms Harriott says: "We try to get them to see themselves in a more positive light.

"We are trying to deal with a problem they have hidden for a number of years, a lot of issues are coming out at the same time.

"They are finding what's happened to them in their childhood is impacting their ability to cope as an adult. Their coping skills are hindered.

"It's hard for children to make sense of their experience, particularly when it's being done by someone in authority.

"Often they don't say that is the presenting problem. We always ask people if they have experienced sex abuse. Sometimes they answer yes then, sometimes it comes out later. It can take a while to get to it because it is difficult.

"We find out their goals and work towards them, such as a reduction in fear. Often people are highly responsible for others. We teach them to take care of themselves as well. Often they have no idea how to do this.

"I look for things they like to do. Some like to watch the soaps, or get their hair done or go walking. We look for calming things which they might not have done for years. They don't take the time for themselves.

"They might not want to talk about it. We ask `How do you view yourself as a person because of it?' Is that a realistic belief about yourself and can we change that into a more positive perception?

"Everyone deserves respect and dignity. To treat them with respect is the start. Sometimes I am the first person who has done that.

"Clients tell me, `I don't know why this is working!' They are getting better responses from the outside world, they don't know why. But it's because they have got respect here, they are expecting respect elsewhere. It comes off you somehow''.

But Ms Harriott thinks the deluge of child sex abuse victims coming through the doors of the WRC's Reid Street base doesn't indicate an increasing problem - merely one that has been hidden away.

"There's no socio-economic distinction - not by race, education, age, religion.

"There appears to be many victims of incest. I think people are more willing to come forward now.

"Forty years ago where would you report it? There was less information available. There were no school councillors, there was no one to report to.

"If you report incest to a family member there will be a denial that this had happened. But sexual abuse is the most violating abuse a woman can experience.

"There are three councillors here and the belief here is that incest is probably higher than other places. Statistics are difficult to find."

Group therapy can help the abused realise they are not alone and alleviate some of the misplaced shame they feel.

Ms Trott says: "It's also about empowerment, so they move from being a victim rather than a survivor.

"For those who don't make that journey the future can be a repeated cycle of failure, affecting not only them but their children too."