“In there but not in there”: sibling sexual abuse as a disruptor in the field of child sexual abuse

ABSTRACT

In this commentary paper, which draws on the authors’ own past research and practice experience in the field of child sexual abuse prevention as well as a thorough knowledge of the extant literature, we argue that sibling sexual abuse challenges conventional thinking about child sexual abuse, both in terms of how the general public conceptualises child sexual abuse and in terms of our practice responses to it. Traditional service responses are often inadequate and inappropriate in situations involving sexual abuse between siblings. The question is further raised as to whether traditional service responses are appropriate for other forms of child sexual abuse. We argue that instead of siloed, individualist therapy and criminal or youth justice responses, whole-family responses are required, which draw on the principles of family therapy and restorative justice.

PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT

This article challenges current practice with families affected by sibling sexual abuse, and other forms of child sexual abuse more broadly It proposes that whole-family responses that draw on the principles of family therapy should be made available to families affected by this issue alongside any individual interventions that may be required. We further recommend that consideration is given to whole-family restorative justice responses as an alternative to traditional criminal or youth justice responses, which have been found to impede family restoration and delay therapeutic support being made available to the child who has been harmed.

KEYWORDS:

• Sibling sexual abuse
• harmful sexual behaviour
• person convicted of a sexual offence
• family therapy
• intrafamilial child sex offending

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).