Why Children Don’t Tell

Atlanta Child Molestation Treatment. According to the United States Department of Juvenile Justice, one in every four children will experience some type of unwanted sexual touch before the age of eighteen: one in every three girls and one in every five boys. What is startling is the fact that fewer than five percent of molested children will tell anyone what has happened. In fact, the average child molester in the United States has over 400 victims over the course of his lifetime, and he will have between 30 and 60 victims before he is arrested for the first time.

So why don’t children tell? There are a variety of reasons. Part of the reason may be the fact that 97 percent of sexual abuse is done by a family member or a family friend. A child who is  being abused by a family member or family friend may not tell anyone because he or she is afraid of not being believed or of being blamed. He or she may also feel a sense of loyalty to the abuser and fear that if he or she tells someone, that person may go to jail. They may also remain silent out of fear. Children who are being sexually abused may fear that the abuser will physically hurt them or another member of their family if they tell anyone about the abuse.

Counseling for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused in Georgia
For many children, keeping the abuse secret is one of the worst parts of being abused. Giving children a safe, caring environment to talk about their abuse  and process the emotional and physical pain they have endured can help them to heal and to regain balance in their lives. Being around others who have been in the same situation can also be comforting for children who have been sexually abused.

Contact us for a referral.