Sexual abuse — a process, not an event: A view from practice

Abstract

The perception of sexual abuse as an event or a series or events is reinforced through traditional strategies for investigation, the current legal system and single agency responses. If, however, we are to understand the dynamics of sexual abuse, offenders and victims, we need to explore and understand the nature of sexual assault as a process. This process of abuse often starts long before the actual ‘hands‐on’ assault and may continue long after the ‘hands‐on’ assault is over.