WHEN A CHILDS SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR BECOMES A CONCERN
Many parents wonder if it’s necessary to treat children who display concerning sexual behaviour. Like others, you may be hoping that your child’s behaviour is just a “stage” he/she is going through, or you may worry that labelling his/her behaviour will do more harm than good. You may also wonder if treatment actually works to help a child stop this behaviour.
Remember, like any other form of behaviour, concerning sexual behaviour can be changed - don't wait until the behaviour becomes more entrenched and difficult to change.
Experience has shown us that there are two very important things that you can do:
- The first is to love your child and to reassure them that you will be there to support them while he/she is working to change their behaviour.
- The second is to give them a clear message about the behaviour: What he/she did is wrong and you want to help him / her make sure that it doesn't happen again.
It is not always easy to do both of these things at the same time. But together they help your child to face what he/she has done, to be honest, and to take responsibility for his/her behaviour. These things will help your child to benefit from therapy and to get on with his/her life in a positive way. The therapists at SAFE will offer you help and support to deal with your feelings, and help you plan for what to do next.
How do I get help?
If your child or a child within your family/whanau or someone you know is displaying these behaviours we can help.
To organise a referral for your child or a child in your care see refer your child.
It is natural for you and/or your family and whanau to feel anxious or nervous about your child (or a child in your care) attending SAFE's treatment service.
To help settle the nerves, the team at SAFE have put together a list of the common responses we have encountered from parents and caregivers over the years to assist you to build your knowledge, and in recognize that you are not alone in this experience.
You might also be wondering what treatment involves for your child.
Treatment for children displaying concerning sexual behaviour is necessary and is effective - research over the last 30 years has demonstrated this very clearly.
