Vancouver Counselling & Therapy: The Wishing Wells Counselling Service

Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-S

What Parents may experience after a child sexual abuse disclosure
When parents first find out about their children being sexually abused, they will experience a wide range of feelings. These emotional reactions are normal responses to a child sexual abuse disclosure. In addition to shock & disbelief, most parents may also feel guilty, worried, angry, deeply saddened, disturbed, heartbroken, lonely or even numb. Your world may seem to have fallen apart and you may feel that you don’t know whom you can trust anymore. Parents often tend to blame themselves for not paying attention to their child’s behaviors or complaints earlier on. You may feel that you have failed as parents and you didn’t protect your children. For some parents they may wonder why their children didn’t disclose to them directly but to others. Some parents also become angry at themselves or at their spouses for not supporting the family.

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Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-S

While the cause of Autism remains unknown, there seems to be an increase in the diagnosis of the ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder condition. Autism spectrum disorders (including Aspergers Syndrome) and autism involve difficulties in relating and establish relationships. They also involve difficulties in communication and cognitive thinking.

Myths of Autism:
When Autism was first studied in 1940, it was understood that people with Autism are unable to love, cannot form loving and warm relationships. However, the work by Dr. Stanley Greenspan suggests that children with Autism Spectrum disorders can also experience a sense of love with significant others, such as their parents or caregivers. In addition, research by Morton Gernsbacher and her colleagues shows that children with ASD can also pay attention and understand human emotions when encouraged & directed.
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