The children almost always report that they would not want to tell their mothers if somebody touched them in the wrong way. Most are concerned that their mothers would be angry with them. In one case, a girl who had previously been quite secretive about her incestuous experience finally told one of the teachers at school about what had happened to her, utilizing the terminology she had learned in the group.

Neither the mothers nor the children generally share their difficulties with other people. While they may entertain fantasies that others will help them deal with their hurt, they rarely take active steps toward obtaining assistance. This difficulty is compounded by the parents' desire to deny sexual abuse and maintain the family secret.

This module is introduced to the mothers in the same way as it is to the children; the mothers are shown the pictures used in the children's group and are told about the step by step examples that are given to the children regarding good touch and bad touch. This facilitates the mothers' discussion of inappropriate sexual advances that might have been made toward them when they were children.

The children tend to react very positively to this material, as long as the child therapists provide sufficient structure and are sensitive to the children's increased expression of anxiety. As the children become more anxious, the therapists' reflection of their difficulty in listening to the presentation usually helps the children to become more focused.

Hypothetical situations about good touch and bad touch are presented:

What if your father or mother is washing you with the wash cloth on your private parts and keeps his or her hand there for a long time? Would this make you uncomfortable? Is this an example of good touch or bad touch?

This module should be introduced early in the curriculum, so that parents, children, and child therapists will all utilize the same labels in the succeeding play therapy exercises. The goals of this module are these: ...

Sexually abused children tend either to withdraw from the assertive task or to react in a very angry fashion. In role playing, some of the children threaten to hit the adults, while others either run away or comply. The inappropriateness of the use of physical force is discussed.

Given that a person has the right to say "no," how does one do this in a safe and non-hurtful manner? The children and their mothers not only lack the belief that they have the right to put limits on others, but they also lack the social skills necessary for successfully limiting coercive interactions. The goals for this particular module are as follows: ...

The children, especially those who have been abused over a long period of time, tend to become anxious and regressive in their play during presentation of this topic, and may leave the structured therapeutic situation. The therapist may need to hold and comfort them while they listen to the various hypothetical situations.

The theme addressed in this module is whether or not a person has the right to set limits. Mothers and children will not be able to stop unwanted advances if they do not feel that they have this right. The goals of this module are these: ...