ABSTRACT

The Frederick family was in ruin. Mother had recently discovered that her husband of 13 years had molested their 11-year-old daughter, Amy. Their other child, a boy of nine named Paul, announced in the car that he had caught Father and Amy naked in her bedroom one night while Mother was at work. When confronted later that night, Father did not deny the facts, but said it wasn't that big a deal, he had only fondled her and kissed her a few times, and while it was wrong, he did not feel that it did any real damage. Amy stated that what had happened was her fault, because she asked her dad a question about sex (which he ended up “answering” through demonstration). Mother was confused, shocked, angry, and frightened, and insisted that the family seek help. She had heard the director of a sex abuse treatment program on the radio recently and called him to find out what to do.