Child sexual assault: One family's experience

Abstract

Familial sexual abuse is a recurrent theme in many practitioners' clinical casework. If there is frequent exposure to these dynamics it is possible to become ‘blunted’ to individual needs, emotions and perspectives. This paper examines one family's reflections in an attempt to highlight and re-focus the important professional issues of disclosure, intervention and initial follow-up. It also emphasises the importance of clients as individuals. It is not an attempt to set guidelines but rather to continue addressing the tension and debate between professional practice to meet individual needs and the protection and therapy for victims and families where familial sexual abuse occurs.