Grief
Home: Workers: Counselling Issues: Supporting family members
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The sexual assault of a child evokes deep feelings of loss and sadness. It is a kind of mourning for the loss of childhood and innocence. There can be real sadness for the loss of trust and the ability to trust in the future. For parents and children who loved the offender there is grief for that relationship. It can be extremely painful to love someone who hurts you and your children. It is normal to grieve for the relationship and to feel confused. The offender has betrayed you and your child. Many parents whose children have been assaulted by someone they loved can feel sorry for them and then feel guity for feeling that. It is a normal response and just because someone does something terrible does not mean you stop loving them.
Again it is helpful to encourage family members to acknowledge their grief, share it, write it down, draw it, sing it - whatever works best for you.. It is a normal part of the process of recovering.
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Disclaimer
Copyright Updated: 9 Feb 2010
The South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault acknowledges the traditional Aboriginal owners of country throughout Victoria. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past, present and future.