PP, forgot a link
http://www.dcrcc.org/support_counseling/children/C122/

My spouse is an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse and the RCC was very helpful to both of us and in finding a private therapist for my spouse (preferred that route).

I'd find a therapist who has experience in dealing with childhood sexual abuse. The DC Rape Crisis Center has a program and may be able to give referrals. A generic therapist will not be able to do much. If something did happen, a therapist experienced with trauma can guide you through any next steps re: the relative.

Anonymous wrote:Do NOT confront the abuser. Let the police deal with it. You will totally blow the case and he will never be found guilty.

A dream isn't a memory. Most abuse victims will have some actual memory. Find a therapist. If more comes out in sessions then call the police.

Do NOT confront the abuser. Let the police deal with it. You will totally blow the case and he will never be found guilty.

Yup, and you need to believe her and at least treat this seriously while you work out what happened. Then, before you make this a big family drama, you probably need to confront the abuser (and until you are ready to do that, not speak to anyone within the family about it). You don't want to create a shit storm for your daughter.

Those types of dreams are pretty normal. Icky but normal. The rest of it though.....I agree about a good therapist. Acknowledge and validate her feelings and tell her it's worth seeing a therapist to explore it further.

She needs to go to therapy.

If your high school aged daughter says she is having dreams about sexual abuse perpetrated on her by a member of the family, and she thinks it happened when she was a child and the family member in question was an active alcoholic at that time, what do you do? What if she begs you not to tell anyone? Really what is the right response to this.