Systemic/Strategic Interventions Targeting Denial in the Incestuous Family

Systemic/Strategic Interventions Targeting Denial in the Incestuous Family

One of the most difficult therapeutic passages facing the clinician working with sexually abusive families is intervening into the denial system. Denial in the incestuous family is especially complex and reaches well beyond the simple denial of whether or not the reported act has actually occurred. It is seen by the authors as serving a protective function whose goal is to preserve stability and avoid conflict at a time of crisis. This paper will present a systemic/strategic protocol for changing the denial system in the sexually abusive family so that more adaptive means of protection can be integrated into family life.