After the child began to show signs that the mother later learned were classic symptoms of abuse, the mother initially suffered from a common defense mechanism, denial. She scheduled a conference with her daughter's teachers and the preschool's director, and the child began therapy. She also contacted the police and met with the district attorney. A regulatory investigation of the preschool was initiated. After extensive counseling, the child began to show improvement in academic performance and social skills. Meanwhile, her parents went into marriage counseling but later separated. The daughter continued to receive therapy in order to deal with the lasting effects of sexual abuse and to learn how to cope with the divorce. The author guides the reader through what to expect from a child who has been abused; what to expect from family, friends, and others; what to expect from the system (criminal investigators and regulatory authorities); and special issues such as mourning, redefined relationships, and destructive versus constructive coping. 36 references