Putting It All Together

• Published in: Journal of child sexual abuse Vol. 20; no. 6; pp. 643 - 656
• Main Author: Finkel, Martin A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Taylor & Francis Group 01-11-2011; Routledge; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescents; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse, Sexual - diagnosis; Child Health Services - organization & administration; Child Sexual Abuse; Child Welfare; Child, Preschool; Children; Clinical Competence; defensible; Developmentally Appropriate Practices; Discrepancies; Evidence; Female; Forensic Medicine - methods; Guidance; History; Humans; Interpersonal Communication; Interview, Psychological - methods; Medical Evaluation; Medical History Taking - methods; Pediatrics - methods; Perceptions; physical; Physical Examination - methods; Physical Examinations; Professional-Patient Relations; Self Disclosure (Individuals); Sex crimes; Sexual Abuse; Sexual relationships; Skills; Symptoms; Symptoms (Individual Disorders); Talking
• ISSN: 1053-8712; 1547-0679
• DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2011.622252

The most available form of evidence in child sexual abuse cases is what the child has to say about his or her alleged experience. The most difficult skill for clinicians to develop is the "how tos" of talking to children in a developmentally appropriate, nonjudgmental, facilitative, and empathetic manner. This manuscript provides insight into obtaining historical details about a child's experience and guidance regarding how to incorporate those details when formulating a balanced and defensible opinion. The consultative report should be an instrument to explain the presence or absence of physical findings, the significance of symptoms temporally related to sexual contact, and discrepancies between a child's perception of an experience and physical findings.