ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book poses significant professional, organizational and personal challenges which ultimately call on the humanity of practitioners. It addresses how intervention needs to be structured to support therapists in undertaking this work. Working with people affected by sexual assault and, in particular, with those who have sexually assaulted children carries reputational and identity implications for the therapist. The book proposes a framework for safety which recognizes three elements: the nature of intervention for parent-child sexual abuse; the context for parent-child sexual abuse; the therapist. Therapists within an organization should not be left totally responsible to manage their responses to undertaking the work. The personal impact of therapy with abusers is of particular relevance for those who have themselves experienced violence. Therapy with those who have sexually harmed children offers to the therapist extraordinary power over their client.
