Estimates indicate that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been sexually abused as children. These statistics may be underestimated based on anecdotal information relayed by many therapists who specialize in working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Effects of childhood sexual abuse have far reaching implications for the survivors' abilities to cope with both everyday stressors and more intense life events. General models of personality and coping styles provide a useful framework for understanding and promoting successful coping in survivors of childhood sexual abuse. One personality style is hardiness. Hardy persons are thought to withstand difficult life situations using a combination of three cognitive appraisal processes: control, commitment, and challenges. Resilience, a second style, is characterized by the ability to move beyond hardships. Coping styles that promote or impede a person's ability to manage life circumstances were examined. Three common themes were: meaning/commitment, control, and challenge. Coping and resilience are covered, with a focus on gender differences. Finally, implications for counseling and psychotherapy are presented. Contains 30 references. (JBJ)