NCJ Number
149686
Date Published
1991
Length
75 pages
Annotation
This book intends to help families of adults sexually abused as children understand the significance of the abuse and the disclosure of the abuse after the abused child has become an adult; ways for family members to assist the survivor are also suggested.
Abstract
This book describes the characteristic reactions of adult survivors of childhood sexual victimization in a way that their family members can understand. Learning that a relative was sexually abused in childhood can have profound effects on other family members. The disclosure can create a crisis even though the child victims are now adults. Family members who were not aware of the abuse are challenged to revise their perceptions of the victim, the abuser, and relationships within the family. This can be disorienting, disruptive, and anxiety-provoking. In the revision process, family members often must revise perceptions of themselves. Although the process whereby family members deal with sexual abuse of a family member can be distressing, painful, and sometimes divisive, it can be liberating and healing as well. This book is designed to help families have the latter experience, as it guides them through the crisis evoked by disclosure without denial, minimization, blaming, recrimination, or polarization within the family. The ideal is for family members to believe that the sexual abuse occurred and to support the victim's right and need to integrate and resolve fear, anger, sadness, shame, guilt, and grief. Also, the family is helped to view the abuser as a multidimensional person who committed a serious offense that requires being accountable, but who also needs treatment. 17 recommended readings