Vision

Help and advice for parents, carers and friends

• Help for parents whose children have been sexually abused
• If you find out someone you know, who is living with you, has sexually abused your child
• What then?
• If you find out your child has been sexually abused by someone you don’t know, but is known to the child

What then?

• DON”T blame your child for what has happened
• DON”T blame yourself or take responsibility for the abuse, the only person to blame is the abuser
• DON”T tell your child to forget about it

• DO reassure your child that it is not their fault
• DO let your child know that you love them
• DO let them know it was brave of them to tell you
• DO encourage your child to talk about it
• DO encourage your child to speak to someone independently who has experience in these issues
• DO try to be sensitive to your child’s emotional needs
• DO look after yourself too; it is an extremely difficult time for you.
• DO get yourself some support, talk to a counsellor and close friends
• DON’T feel that you have to try to sort this all by yourself. There are people who will help you