Blog
Family Estrangement | What is it and how should you deal with it?
Question: Have you ever heard the term family estrangement? I ask because these days I hear the term a lot. So much so, I decided to take a deep dive into the topic. A natural place to start would probably be a definition, don’t you think? Exactly what is family estrangement? According to PsychologyToday.com, “Family
When the teacher is a female sex offender
When you hear the term, “sex offender,” who do you imagine? A leering man in a windowless van? An oddball uncle or a coach? Most people picture a creepy male sexual predator. However, when I visualize my abuser, I see a smiling female sex offender who was an elementary teacher, a pillar of the community.
Abusive Siblings: How to handle siblings fighting
Is this your world? Sisters fighting. Brothers battling. Teen siblings in conflict. Even toddlers showing sibling aggression. In your family, are the siblings fighting all the time? If so, is what you’re witnessing a sibling rivalry problem, or might the sibling aggression you’re seeing actually be sibling abuse? To figure out how to handle siblings
The Future of Child Abuse Prevention–from the 2024 Envision Conference
If you’re curious as to what the future of child abuse prevention looks like, allow me to offer some insight. From the 2024 Annual Envision Conference put on by Johns Hopkins University’s Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse out of the Bloomberg School of Public Health. The goal of the conference, titled,
Sibling Sexual Abuse: What Everyone Needs to Know
My new book, Everyone Was Silent, is now available! Purchase it here. Are you familiar with the phrase sibling sexual abuse? The term is sometimes referred to as SSA. Many people know of the issue thanks to the Amazon Prime original documentary, “Shiny Happy People,” featuring the Duggar family of “19 Children and Counting” fame.
Kids’ Online Safety: My 3 top tips
Are the kids you love safe online? When it comes to keeping children safe, lack of knowledge regarding kids’ online safety equals vulnerability, in my opinion. In case you’re a little behind on this topic, I’m going to review my top three child safety tips when it comes to your kids’ online activity. Stay informed Consider
What is a Child Advocacy Center?
Do you know what a child advocacy center is? Usually referred to as a “CAC?” Taylor Shultz, Director of Awareness and Development at the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, provided this guest post. What is a Child Advocacy Center (CAC)? The idea of a child advocacy center–aka CAC–was created to address the distressing and often
How to become a body safety educator
How to get started as a body safety educator A young woman contacted me recently saying, “I’m really interested in body safety practices for children so they can feel empowered in their bodies. Do you have any tips for getting started in this field?” As a professional who writes and speaks to children and adults
The (absolutely free)Child Safety Resource No One Is Talking About
Newsflash: There’s a 100% free child safety resource no one is talking about. Actually, some people are talking about it, but certainly not enough. Your child may not know about it. Heck, you may not know about it! So let’s correct this situation right now. You’ve heard me say a ton of times, when the
The X-Factor—An exit strategy for kids
Recently I posted this reel on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn about a brilliant personal safety plan—“exit strategy,” if you prefer—for your child to utilize when they’re in a sticky situation and need a way out. Last time I looked, this 60-second reel had over 2,100 views. I’m super psyched this strategy is getting out into
The Impacts of Child Sexual Abuse: How “The Body Keeps the Score”
How does child sexual abuse, or any trauma really, impact a person—body and soul? In his brilliant book, The Body Keeps the Score,* Bessel van der Kolk M.D. outlines the effects trauma can have on the body. According to van der Kolk, “Trauma is an event that overwhelms the central nervous system, altering the way
Am I Being Groomed for (Sexual) Abuse: 5+ signs to look out for
What does it look like when someone is plotting and planning a not-so-nice future with another individual, adult or child? I discovered the formula for abuse—relational and/or sexual—in Sandy Kirkham’s riveting memoir about her abuse experience at the hands of her youth pastor. Read on if you’re wondering: Am I being groomed for (sexual) abuse?
