Sexual violence and sexual behaviour problems have significant impacts not only on young victims, but also on their parents and/or the significant adults in their lives. The support and presence of parents or significant adults play an essential role, forming a genuine safety net for the child or adolescent.
Any parent or significant adult accompanying a young person who is a victim of sexual violence, or a child presenting sexual behaviour problems, can be supported at every stage of the process — from disclosure to the end of the treatment.
Marie-Vincent provides a space for listening and support to parents and/or significant adults to help them manage the challenges associated with these situations. The goal is to equip them so they become protective adults, better prepared to be supportive of their child.
If a child or adolescent confides that they have experienced sexual abuse, we invite you to read the following page:
After a service request is completed, psychosocial intervention may be arranged for the parents and/or significant adults concerned. A clinician assesses needs, then recommends appropriate services.
The ensuing encounters make it possible to:
The psychosocial and psychotherapeutic services for children include a recurring parental guidance component. This service, provided by the child’s clinician, aims to transmit to parents or accompanying adults the strategies and knowledge worked on in therapy so they can be applied at home.
Parental guidance also helps strengthen communication between parent and child.. This service is designed to help the accompanying adult become more confident and better equipped to be supportive of the child throughout the process and to become the key resource for the child once treatment ends.
Parental guidance may also be provided to parents of adolescents aged 14 and over if the adolescents consent to sharing information and to their parent’s involvement in their psychosocial and psychotherapeutic process.
During the child’s treatment, a parent or accompanying adult may experience difficulties of their own regarding the child’s or adolescent’s experience of sexual violence. In such cases, a referral for support services for parents and significant adults may be made by the child’s clinician. A needs assessment is then conducted by a Marie-Vincent psychosocial practitioner to determine and recommend the most appropriate service.
The length of treatment varies according to the needs identified during the assessment. It is provided only while the child is receiving services and is tailored to the specific needs of their situation.
Video
Article
