Good for Tyia...good clinicians are thorough, and don't jump to conclusions. Your willingness to ask the questions bodes well for you. One thing I've learned about this situation is that there are no absolutes. Children react differently to events in their lives. Playing spin the bottle with older kids may or may not traumatize a child. What determines this? Many studies show a large influence comes from how the primary caretakers respond to the event(s). If they "freak out" usually the child does too. If they are calm and rational, the child is usually OK. Encourage the aunt and uncle to set limits calmly, answer questions honestly, and give him opportunities to earn their trust. You could also work with the 5 year old on appropriate touch. At that age, a good way to describe private parts is "anything your bathing suit covers". Remember, the more shame and upheavel there is, the less likely the children will be honest. Help them create an atmosphere where dialogue about sex is allowed. You may need to address the aunt and uncle's possible discomfort about this, but the 12 year old needs an outlet. Take care, and continued good luck
Sean M. Benedict, MFT
Replies:
There are no replies to this message.
|
| Behavior OnLine Home Page | Disclaimer |
Copyright © 1996-2004 Behavior OnLine, Inc. All rights reserved.