NCJ Number
212993
Journal
Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Dated: 2005 Pages: 245-258
Date Published
2005
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article provides guidance for therapists and others who are helping recovering sex addict parents explain healthy sexual functioning to their children.
Abstract
Given the impact that a sexual addiction can have on the family and on children in particular, it is important that recovering parents clarify their values about sexual topics in order to deliver a consistent message to children. Parents are advised to remain open to questions from their children and to use teachable moments to talk about sexuality rather than waiting for children to ask. Advice on how parents can become emotional coaches to their children is offered so that parents have the tools necessary to increase emotional intelligence and healthy decisionmaking in their children. It is recommended that all addicts and their partners develop a set of guidelines for their own sexual behaviors within primary and secondary relationships since children often learn the behaviors they see modeled. The article also confronts the issues of sexual abuse and disclosure of the sexual addiction to children. Parents are encouraged to seize teachable moments to educate children about sexual abuse, such as when a television program addresses the topic or abuse happens to a friend or relative. In terms of disclosure of the parent sex addiction, parents are advised to plan the disclosure in advance and to involve a therapist. A series of four tables provide guidance on talking with children about masturbation and pornography, sexual readiness, sexual abuse, and list children’s most likely questions. Tables, references, appendix