SEXUAL ISSUES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE FORUM ARCHIVE
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Re: Child Sexual Abuse Treatment
Monica · 3/9/00 at 3:07 pm ET
I beg to differ, but a 12 year-old engaging in sex play with a 5-yearold is not within the realms of normal sex play. The 12 year old may not have meant any harm, but it is still abuse in that there is a significant age difference, and thus the power differential is significant. This is different from two adolescent boys experimenting, or two 5 year olds playing doctor. In this case, the 5 year old was likely manipulated or coerced, and the nature of the "play" was on a 12 year old level, involving activities that a 5 year old simply is not ready to handle. I can understand your point that children will experiment, and that children often simply don't understand about what is appropriate, but I can also understand the aunt and uncle not wanting to leave their preschooler alone with the 12 year old, as if this child truly doesn't know what he did wrong, he will likely repeat it, or if he is not helped to develop insight, will also likely repeat it. this was a case of incest, and if allowed to be repeated, can cause far-reaching psychic damage to the little girl later in life. Even once can cause harm.
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