If a child tells you that she/ he is being abused, the first thing to do is to check your own instinctive response. Your first reaction may be to be angry or unable to believe it or annoyed or any combination of these and other strong feelings. Take time to be aware of your inner reaction and to calm yourself so that your psychological reactions do not influence the child. Otherwise, once the child senses your reactions, the child will not want to tell you what happened, instead the child will feel ashamed and guilty for what happened.
In doing so, do not make any promise that you will not to be able to keep. It is vital to keep aware of this. Someone has already destroyed the child’s trust so do not set yourself up to betray the child’s trust again.
BTS used to refer the sexual abused child to the agencies where appropriate advice and care are available.