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Stopping the Cycle Program -
therapy for children with sexually intrusive behaviours and their
parents
Over the years I had had a number of children
referred to me because they were touching other children in an
inappropriate sexual manner. In some cases, this behaviour was
being used by the child to let other people know s/he had
experienced sexual intrusion and needed help. In other cases, the
child had grown up in a home without adequate boundaries around
personal privacy and sexual content and was acting out what they
had learned. I also saw children who had not matured emotionally as
their bodies matured and, as a result, when they started having
interest in sexuality it was directed at younger children and not
toward peers. A fourth category would be the children who are
extremely angry at the world and this is their way of "taking
revenge." Some children fit in several categories.
In 2002, my colleague Margaret Stephens, MSW,
RSW, and I, working through the Pacific Centre Family Services Association,
received a grant from the Queen Alexandra Foundation to provide therapy for
children ages 6-12 who were exhibiting extreme sexualized behaviours and their
parents. The work with the parents is extremely important in helping children
(1) feel better about themselves, (2) work through earlier distressing
situations, and (3) shift to healthy behaviours. These monies are now at an end
and we have submitted a proposal to the National Crime Prevention Strategy
Community Mobilization Program.
In the work with the children, we are very
direct in talking about the sexualized behaviours, analyzing why these
behaviours are occurring, and how the child's needs can be met in healthier
ways. Parents are helped to learn more effective parenting techniques and ways
to provide the type of structure that helps children to feel safe. With the
children, we build self-esteem and work through both early distress and present
fears. This is a team effort-child, parents, therapists-and has been very
successful.
I have also worked with adolescent children who
have been sexually intrusive with other children or youth and either are
waiting to attend the Youth Forensics Program or, because the courts were not
involved, will not be attending Youth Forensics. |
