Without effective therapeutic intervention, many traumatized children will suffer ongoing or long-term adverse social, emotional, and developmental outcomes that may impact them throughout their lifetimes. Today we have evidenced-based treatments and other practices with strong empirical support that will both reduce the impacts of trauma and the risk of future abuse.

Non-offending caregivers/family members are often the key to the child’s recovery and ongoing protection. Their mental health is often an important factor in their capacity to support the child. Therefore, non-offending caregivers/family members may benefit from counseling and support to address the emotional impact of the abuse allegations, reduce or eliminate the risk of future abuse, and address issues which the allegation may trigger.

Mental health treatment for non-offending parents or guardians, many of whom have victimization histories themselves, may focus on support and coping strategies for themselves and their child, information about sexual abuse, dealing with issues of self-blame and grief, family dynamics, parenting training and education and their own abuse and trauma histories.

Non-offending siblings and other children may also benefit from opportunities to discuss their own reactions and experiences and to address family issues within a confidential therapeutic relationship.