For Parents Archives | Overcoming Sexual Abuse

Standing Up to Our Incest Family Part 1

osa August 14, 2023November 6, 2023 For Parents, Incest, Podcast No Comments

My daughter, Bethany, shares what it was like to grow up in an incest family and how that sabotaged our mother-daughter relationship. We talk about how we stood up to our incest family together and started on the healing journey.I’m joined by my daughter, Bethany, who is also the co-founder of Overcoming Sexual Abuse, and Bethany shares what it was like to grow up in an incest family and how that sabotaged our mother-daughter relationship. We talk about how we stood up to our incest family together and then started on the healing journey.

What We Wish Our Parents Understood About Our Sexual Abuse

osa May 1, 2012January 27, 2017 Articles, Family Rejection, For Parents 140 Comments

One of the deepest sources of pain for sexual abuse survivors is the lack of support from family members, especially from parents. Over and over again, survivors of abuse have expressed the feeling that as destructive as sexual abuse is, it’s the abandonment and betrayal of their parents that hurt the most. Conversely, when a child is believed and supportedRead more

Do Kids Miss Out While Parents Heal?

Guest Contributions July 24, 2011September 11, 2016 Articles, For Parents 22 Comments

by Jennifer Stuck My childhood sexual abuse used to be something I rarely thought about. In fact, most of my time was spent finding ways to stuff my memories and feelings, doing anything I could to distract myself. I compulsively exercised, cleaned morning till night – anything to not think. Even though my past was something I rarely thought about,Read more

Straight Talk to Parents About Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse

Christina Enevoldsen July 17, 2011August 26, 2018 Articles, For Parents 33 Comments

by Christina Enevoldsen I come from a long line of parents who didn’t protect their children from sexual abuse. My maternal and paternal grandparents failed to guard my parents; my parents didn’t protect me (my father was my primary sexual abuser); then I failed to protect my children. I’ve written about some of my own issues that made my daughterRead more

Confessions of a Child Molester’s Wife

Christina Enevoldsen March 12, 2011August 13, 2023 Articles, For Parents 170 Comments

by Christina Enevoldsen When my daughter was eight years old, she spent the night at a friend’s house. She and her friend spent hours swimming in their community pool and Bethany came home with her face, arms and legs red and burning. I was irate that the girl’s mother allowed Bethany to be exposed to the sun for so long,Read more

How To Support a Survivor of Sexual Abuse

Christina Enevoldsen April 7, 2010August 26, 2018 Articles, For Parents 13 Comments

by Christina Enevoldsen If a friend or family member tells you he or she was sexually abused, please consider the importance of your role in the healing process. Disbelief or disinterest from loved ones can intensify or prolong trauma from abuse. It is emotionally overwhelming when someone you love and trust doesn’t believe you or doesn’t care that something devastatingRead more

How to Handle Disclosure of Sexual Abuse from a Child

Christina Enevoldsen October 20, 2009November 9, 2015 Articles, For Parents 11 Comments

by Christina Enevoldsen Sexual abuse is one of the most traumatic events that can happen to a child. The way their disclosure is handled can make a difference in whether the discloser is a continuation of their trauma or the first step in healing. Though it is difficult to believe that someone could hurt a child that way, children rarelyRead more