Child and adolescent sexual violence as a public health problem poses ethical, clinical, and emotional challenges to healthcare professionals. This context needs to be explored for the improvement of healthcare services.To describe the emotional aspects of healthcare professionals in the care of victims of child and adolescent sexual violence.Qualitative and descriptive study conducted in a program at a pediatric hospital in the State of Ceará, Brazil, with 18 healthcare professionals (social workers, psychologists, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists). Semi-structured interviews were conducted, with data analyzed using Thematic Content Analysis. This study is part of a larger project, approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Ceará, under opinion number 7,500,752.The professionals' statements reveal psychological suffering, feelings of distress, anguish, and a sense of helplessness in some cases, also linked to other factors that challenge their work, such as overload, weakened work relationships, and a work structure that does not fully support compassionate care. There was thus a perceived absence of institutional support mechanisms for caregivers, as the topic 'institutional strategies to improve working conditions' was only mentioned in the context of technical training actions from the professional training plan within the service program.The need for emotional support is evident, as it is observed from the findings and reflections presented in this study that the continuous exposure of these healthcare professionals to situations of child and adolescent sexual violence has significant repercussions on their mental health (something that the literature in the field also reflects). These aspects can be exacerbated by adverse institutional conditions, such as work overload, weakened relationships, and structural limitations.The study understood that emotional aspects are central dimensions in addressing child and adolescent sexual violence and are related to working conditions. The absence of institutional caregiver support mechanisms highlights a persistent challenge in organizing health services. It becomes necessary to implement strategies that integrate technical training and psychosocial support for professionals, as these actions can strengthen care, protect workers, and improve attention to children and adolescents.