THE EFFECTS OF CHILD MOLESTATION AND CHILD EXPOSURE TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: IMPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING.

Abstract

Child molestation is a form of abuse regarded as a crime which involves a series of lustful and erotic happening between an adult and a child. It is the act of taking undue advantage of a child age below 14years by an adult of over 18years for sexual pleasure. It is an unapproved sexual activity between an adult and a child done by force or by intimidation. There are various types of child molestation which includes rape, Alcohol and Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault, Cat Calls, Child Sexual Abuse, Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Exhibitionism, Female Genital Mutilation, Incest, Sex Trafficking, Intimate Partner Sexual Violence, Obscene Phone Calls, Voyeurism. Counsellors should make themselves available to parents and community members to help vulnerable children and their families, abuse is not just physical, words and actions can inflict deep, lasting wounds. Counsellors should show examples that conflicts can be settled without hitting or yelling. It is however recommended that, there should be an on-going evaluation of communities by professionals and Communities with high report of molestation would be sanctioned, counsellors are also accepted to protect the feelings of the children who have been molested in one way or the other.