FREE CLINICAL RESOURCES
VOICE, OPENNESS, RESPONSIBILITY, SAFETY (VORS) PRINCIPLES WHEN SIBLING SEXUAL ABUSE OCCURS
It’s astonishing that for more than 40 years we have known sibling sexual abuse occurs up to five times more frequently than (step)father–daughter abuse (Finkelhor, 1979; 1980), yet there remains limited guidance on how to assess, treat, and support sibling reunification. The sibling bond can be life’s longest intimate relationship—and one of the most harmful when abuse occurs. Many families reunify over time (often in adulthood), but there is minimal evidence to guide removal and contact decisions or to clarify how contact affects each sibling’s treatment and well-being outcomes. How do we individualize and structure an ethical reunification process while balancing each child’s unique developmental needs?
SEXUAL DECISION-MAKING: YOUR PERSONAL CODE
The purpose of this booklet is to assist young people in systematically considering the multiple factors that make up the complex background of their sexual decisions. Although this booklet was originally designed for this clinical population, it is easily transferable to youth in a general population. It is our hope that you will find these exercises useful with the youth with whom you are engaged.
MY DIGITAL JOURNEY (MDJ)©
My Digital Journey (MDJ) © is a non-judgmental and developmentally appropriate reflective tool to help understand and chronicle a youth’s digital experience. It is intended to be used as an adjunct to supplement a comprehensive assessment for youth who have committed sexual offences. Our goal is to understand the youth’s digital footprint including the needs, thoughts and functions of their digital activity within the context of their developmental milestones. Likewise, we believe it is important to highlight the strengths and resiliency of each youth within their digital world as these protective factors will be fundamental to their on-line decision making. MDJ© explores their social media savvy, on-line literacy and communication style. Moreover, MDJ© is intended to provide an opportunity to support the client’s strengths, safe choices and skills. It also serves to identify potential educational and corrective opportunities that could be incorporated into a comprehensive treatment plan, based on the global understanding of the youth. In addition to the client workbook, the authors have also developed a caregiver/parent questionnaire to assist in exploring additional areas of both strengths and concerns from the perspective of the caregiver. Clinicians who choose to use this tool are called upon to consider how they might approach the material from a non-judgemental position in an effort to support the development of the critical thinking skills necessary for youth to become more thoughtful digital citizens. Karen Holladay, Consulting Clinical Therapist Nancy Rumble, Consulting Clinical Therapist Heather Barbour, Consulting Clinical Therapist Franca Iannotta, Consulting Psychologist
INTEREST IN DIAPERS QUESTIONNAIRE (IDQ)
A brief, guided questionnaire used to explore the meaning, context, and function of a client’s interest in diapers (e.g., comfort, safety, arousal, reminders, or coping). It supports collaborative assessment and treatment planning and helps identify areas of concern (including any risky or non-consensual behaviours). Not a diagnostic tool and not a substitute for comprehensive trauma-informed assessment.
SELF-STIMULATION QUESTIONNAIRE (SSQ)
A structured, trauma-informed questionnaire that helps clarify the patterns, triggers, thoughts/feelings, and functions of self-stimulation/masturbatory behaviour (e.g., regulation, comfort, anxiety reduction, arousal). It supports psychoeducation, risk screening when relevant, and individualized intervention planning. Not a diagnostic tool and not a substitute for comprehensive trauma-informed assessment.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TOUCHING
The idea for writing this booklet originated out of a discussion of how to help new clinicians in the field feel comfortable using their own creativity when working with children with concerning sexualized behaviour. We have organized this booklet into a number of sections. Each section builds on information from the previous section, and culminates in the creation of an unique treatment intervention specific to the needs of the child you are working with.
BODY BOOK: PRIVATE PARTS HAVE A REASON
Body Book: Private Parts Have a Reason is a gentle, child-friendly poem that teaches kids that every body part has a purpose—and that private parts deserve special rules. Through simple rhymes and playful illustrations, it introduces body science, consent, privacy, and clear safe-touching boundaries. It’s designed as a warm conversation-starter for caregivers and clinicians to support healthy, age-appropriate body safety learning.
RESPONDING TO ADOLESCENT SEXUAL OFFENDING
In Canada, only the provinces of British Columbia and Nova Scotia have mandated, coordinated protocols for various systems’ responses when adolescent sexual offending has occurred. This document was created out of recognition of the need for a coordinated, systemic response to adolescent sexual offending in Ontario. It is our position that effective management of adolescents who commit sexual harm is greatly enhanced by working collaboratively with the various systems within the adolescent’s circle of care. As such, we have aimed to prepare a document that provides recommendations for a responding protocol by police, child protection services, and judicial services, from the point of allegations to referral for assessment and treatment. Although we are aware that the recommendations expressed in this document represent the ideal continuum of care, and that a number of communities may not have the necessary resources available to provide this scope of care or response, we believe it is vital to provide communities with information regarding best-practice of care for adolescents who have sexually offended and their families. It is our belief that implementation of a regional protocol, along the lines of that recommended in this document, will have a direct impact on the protection of our community through responsible and ethical treatment of adolescents who have engaged in sexual offences, victimized individuals, and their families. Dana Costin Tracey Curwen Siegi Schuler








