Using many examples and case studies, the book covers a broad range of situations and problems encountered in child sexual abuse cases. Experienced in both school and clinical settings, the authors focus on practical methods for direct intervention and recommend techniques, strategies, and resources that adults can use to help alleviate child and family trauma. The book includes typical scenarios of abusive encounters, short-term and long-term effects of sexual abuse on all involved parties, myth-debunking statistics, and a review of normal sexual development. Detailed advice is provided for handling sexual abuse cases, from the earliest stage of assessing the child's and perpetrator's credibility to the later stage of informing authorities and arranging medical examinations. Case studies illustrate common emotions and behaviors and offer suggestions for treating reactions such as anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, shock, stigma, incomprehension, and repression. Also examined are the nature and role of both incestuous and nonincestuous families. The book describes how children can use creative expression to explore hidden emotions. The book includes an accurate portrait of typical offenders, a discussion of how to monitor and cope with the legal system, a review of the phenomenon of sexual abuse, and a summation of the latest prevention techniques and professional counseling services. Appended supplementary materials, 28 references, subject index.