NCJ Number
195503
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: 2001 Pages: 35-57
Date Published
2001
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This article presents a model that emphasizes helping parents process their affective reactions and cognitive beliefs about having a child with sexual behavior problems, enabling parents to talk directly and productively with their child about the problematic behavior.
Abstract
The need to engage the family system is essential in effectively treating children who present with sexual behavior problems. Parental cooperation and investment in the child’s treatment plays an instrumental role in helping the child resolve sexual issues and problems. This article presents a model for helping parents deal with their emotions and reactions and coaches parents on how to talk openly and directly with their child about the sexual behavior problems. The model presented has been used with children living in the same house and are biologically related occupying the same space, as well as children who are unrelated. The article presents and discusses the model’s five steps that include: (1) gain parental acceptance of the child’s sexual behavior problems; (2) processing parents’ affective and cognitive reactions; (3) processing the impact and consequences of addressing the child’s behavior; (4) creating a plan for talking directly with their child; and (5) delineating steps and changes to be taken as a result of the child’s inappropriate sexual behavior. The goal is to create a supportive environment reducing the need for defenses and helping parents acknowledge the problem and respond constructively to their child’s inappropriate sexual behavior. References