The essential guide for families navigating the aftermath of sexual abuse in the home

When sexual abuse is discovered within a family, the resulting crisis can seem insurmountable. Parents face impossible choices, professionals offer conflicting advice, and everyone struggles with overwhelming emotions. Into this void steps Dr. Shanti Duncan with Healing Family Wounds, a comprehensive roadmap for families in their darkest hour.

Drawing from more than twenty years of specialized clinical experience working with both survivors of abuse and those who have caused harm, Dr. Duncan offers her SAFETY FIRST framework—a structured, compassionate approach that guides families through each critical stage of recovery:

• Safety: Immediate steps to protect everyone involved
• Assessment: Understanding the situation and available resources
• Function: Managing day-to-day life during a crisis
• Engagement: Working effectively with courts and therapists
• Treatment: What to expect from therapy
• Yourself: Essential self-care for parents and caregivers
• Fear: Addressing common worries about the future
• Integration: Rebuilding family life with new awareness
• Reunification: When and how to safely bring family members together
• Security: Maintaining long-term safety and healing
• Thriving: Moving beyond survival to genuine well-being

As both a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider, Dr. Duncan brings unique insight to this complex situation, offering a balanced approach that prioritizes the safety of those harmed while recognizing that children who cause harm also need support and treatment.
Written with compassion and clarity, Healing Family Wounds fills a critical gap in resources for families facing their darkest hour, offering not just crisis management but a path toward genuine healing and restored family relationships when possible.