Addressing Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Children: How We Can Help

This book provides the research, education, and structure required for conceptualizing the therapeutic treatment of children ages twelve and under who present with a range of problematic sexual behaviors. This resource includes a literature review, step-by-step treatment curriculum, and guidance for clinicians working with this diverse population. Clinicians will learn how to support families, provide appropriate education and effective treatment, and aid in the prevention of further problematic sexual behaviors.

Table of Contents:
Preface Introduction to the Research Some Things to Note Before We Get Started Definitions at a Glance Development Treatment Steps Part I: Curriculum Chapter 1: Building Rapport Building Trust Chapter 2: The Foundation of Treatment: Safety Planning, Boundaries, and Types of Touch Basics of a Safety Plan The Safety Plan Boundaries Types of Touch Chapter 3: Body Awareness Emotional Recognition and Regulation Building Coping Skills and Interventions Let’s Talk About Body Parts Chapter 4: Client History Gathering Client History Trouble Thoughts Chapter 5: Ownership Accountability Chapter 6: Healthy Relationships and Appropriate Sexuality Components of a Healthy Relationship Components of Consent Helpful Tools to Teach C.E.R.T.S and F.R.I.E.S Safety in Relationships Psychoeducation Related to Pornography Chapter 7: Empathy and Awareness Intent vs. Impact and Empathy vs. Sympathy Psychoeducation for Caregivers Regarding Empathy Victim Awareness Curriculum Chapter 8: Future Safety and Finishing Strong Safe Play Plan Treatment Review Part II: … Chapter 9: Multi-System Involvement Let’s Talk About School Involvement in Extracurriculars Functioning within the Home Community Partners Chapter 10: Common Characteristics, Barriers, and Challenges That Come Up When Working with This Population Common Characteristics, Barriers, and Issues Seen in Children with Problematic Sexual Behaviors Common Challenges That Come Up When Working with the Families of Children with Problematic Sexual Behaviors Common Struggles and Issues Experienced When Working within Larger Systems While Treating Problematic Sexual Behaviors Conclusion Chapter 11: Furthering the Field Lack of Research Assessments Appendix: Activity Worksheets and Examples References Index About the Author

About the Author :
Genevieve Naquin is a licensed professional counselor and lead therapist at Higher Ground Counseling, a clinic that specializes in working with those who have problematic sexual behaviors, illegal sexual behaviors, and who have experienced abuse and trauma. She is a certified clinical sexual offense therapist who started her time in the field working with adolescents who were adjudicated for sexual offenses. She has since developed expertise in working with young children who are engaging in problematic sexual behaviors, a specialization that closely aligns with her passion for sexual abuse prevention. Genevieve has presented on this topic in both educational and conference settings.

Review :
There are a handful of useful resources for treating adolescents who have been adjudicated for problematic sexual behavior, but, with the exception of this book, none that address working with young children and non-adjudicated children with problematic sexual behavior. Genevieve Naquin’s excellent book is as timely as it is informative, expertly filling this gap and providing practical guidance to treatment providers working with this population. Written from a systemic perspective that considers family and other important contextual elements, Naquin’s book provides a useful framework for better understanding the unique issues surrounding the treatment and supervision of non-adjudicated children with problematic sexual behavior, and she offers a variety of easy to follow interventions targeted to this unique population and the systems within which they function. This is a book that will benefit seasoned treatment providers, therapists who are new to the field, and clinicians who are just starting to work with younger clients with problematic sexual behavior. As we have evolved to better discern normative vs. non-normative childhood sexual behavior, the expertise and service model to treat problematic sexual behavior (PSB) has lagged. In this book, Genevieve Naquin succinctly captures the elusive subject of clinical intervention for PSB in children. Naquin not only manualizes her stellar clinical expertise, but also provides a myriad of therapeutic tools and resources that address the complex systemic barriers that clinicians and families face when supporting a child with PSB. Use of Naquin’s book will aid clinicians in safely keeping children in their homes, mitigating further harm to others, and potentially circumventing the need for the juvenile justice system to adjudicate children with PSB. This book is a welcome addition to the literature. It combines the latest research with an excellent knowledge of the field’s history. It then adds lots of helpful practical suggestions with a flexible structure for understanding, assessing, and treating these children. Helping children to move beyond problematic sexual behaviors starts here. Younger children who present with problematic sexual behaviors need responses that support behavioral change but that never lose sight of the child and their needs. All too often the needs of such children have been neglected or assumed to be the same as those of teenagers with abusive sexual behaviors. Addressing Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Children: How We Can Help by Genevieve Naquin is invaluable for clinicians working with children under the age of 12 to address their problematic sexual behaviors and to enhance their life outcomes. This manual is packed full of practical advice, ideas and exercises, based on the author’s own wide ranging clinical experiences. It’s a thoroughly engaging read. The book provides a model for child-focused, respectful, and empathic practice from start to finish.