February Spotlight: Harmful Sexual Behaviour

Harmful Sexual Behaviour Towards Parental Figures: Breaking the Silence

Trigger Warning: This article discusses harmful sexualised behaviors, sexual assault, and sexual abuse. Please take care while reading. If you need support, you can reach out to the services listed below.

- Survivors’ Network provides a list of local and national services. Link: https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk/resource/helplines-webchat-services/

- Rape Crisis offers a 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, available every day of the year. Call free on 0808 500 2222 or visit https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/.

- SARSAS has a helpline and online chat available at various times, with e-support open 24/7. They aim to respond within one working day. Link: https://www.sarsas.org.uk/

- Samaritans has a helpline available 24/7, every day of the year. Call free on 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/

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Sexual abuse within families is often discussed in terms of adults harming children. However, a deeply distressing yet largely unrecognised issue is child-to-parent harmful sexual behaviour. While this topic is difficult to talk about, it is critical that we break the silence to ensure parents receive the support they need without fear of judgment, blame, or disbelief.

Recent research by us at PEGS has shown that 17% of parents experience inappropriate sexualised behaviours from their child, and 5% have been subjected to sexual assault and/or rape by their child (including both minor and adult aged children). Despite ongoing efforts to raise awareness, this issue remains heavily stigmatised and underreported.

Understanding Child-to-Parent Harmful Sexual Behaviour

The dynamics of child-to-parent sexual abuse are uniquely challenging. Parental figures, who are traditionally in positions of authority and care, often struggle with feelings of guilt, confusion, and shame when faced with these behaviours. They may hesitate to report or seek help for various reasons, including concerns about criminalising their own child.

Their fear of judgment and shame, alongside limited support services, leaves many parents feeling increasingly isolated and alone in their experience, making it harder for parents to find the support they need.

While every situation is unique, harmful sexual behaviours towards a parental figure could include:

- Engaging in explicit conversations or making sexualised comments

- Groping, touching, or attempting inappropriate physical contact

- Exposure or masturbation in front of a parent with the intent to provoke discomfort

- Creating or attempting to create explicit images or recordings of a parent

- Pressuring or coercing a parent into situations of a sexual nature

Please note, the above list is not exhaustive.

To use the words of one brave parent who experienced harmful sexual behaviour: "Telling someone your child hits you is one thing, telling someone your child has sexualised thoughts about you is another"

The Importance of Compassionate Intervention

To address this issue, it is vital to raise awareness. More open discussions are needed to ensure that this form of abuse is recognised and addressed. By breaking the silence, we can:

- Provide parents with access to specialist support

- Promote earlier intervention to reduce the likelihood of behaviours escalating

- Offer education and guidance to help families navigate these challenges

To effectively address child-to-parent sexual abuse, a compassionate and structured approach is required. This includes access to specialist intervention and support. Trained professionals in child sexual behaviour management can provide tailored strategies and therapeutic support to help families manage inappropriate behaviours and navigate the challenges they face.

It’s essential that we acknowledge the issue of child-to-parent sexual abuse and work to break the silence surrounding it. Families facing this challenge should not have to navigate it alone. By raising awareness, improving access to services, and fostering a non-judgmental approach, we can ensure that affected families receive the support, education, and solutions they need to move forward.

If you or someone you know is experiencing inappropriate sexualised behaviours from their child, remember: support is available. You are not alone, and seeking help is the first step toward healing.

For further support, consider reaching out to one of the following services:

- Survivors’ Network provides a list of local and national services. Link: https://survivorsnetwork.org.uk/resource/helplines-webchat-services/

- Rape Crisis offers a 24/7 Rape & Sexual Abuse Support Line, available every day of the year. Call free on 0808 500 2222 or visit https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/.

- SARSAS has a helpline and online chat available at various times, with e-support open 24/7. They aim to respond within one working day. Link: https://www.sarsas.org.uk/

- Samaritans has a helpline available 24/7, every day of the year. Call free on 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/

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Founding Director, Michelle, has been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours for Family Support and Advocacy.

By PEGS Admin • June 15, 2026

Child to Parent Abuse organisation founder awarded MBE The founder of a social enterprise which has supported thousands of parents impacted by abusive behaviours from their children has been awarded an MBE. Michelle John, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales but now based in Shropshire, was among the names announced for the prestigious accolade in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year. In 2020, Michelle set up not-for-profit organisation PEGS with the aim of supporting parents and carers, training professionals, influencing local and national policy, and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse – which is thought to affect up to one in ten households in the UK. Since then, she has grown a team of experts who have trained police, social workers, teachers and many other professionals to better recognise the signs of CPA, support parents, and signpost to specialist organisations. In addition, Michelle set up a range of parent-focused initiatives including daily practitioner-led online sessions, a Facebook peer support group which now has 3,300 members, and one-to-one offerings for those at highest risk. PEGS launched a CPA Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, only the fourth such covenant to be backed by the Government, and Michelle has advised everyone from the Home Office to Channel 4 and the BBC on CPA – the latter for storyline on Hollyoaks and EastEnders. Her work has seen CPA covered by journalists across television news programmes, national newspapers and magazine, and regional press and radio, and she’s received numerous awards both in the UK and internationally. Michelle, whose MBE was awarded for Family Support and Advocacy, said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them. “I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way. There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be impacted by CPA. “There is so much to reflect on from the journey of the last six years, and there have been many highlights and challenges along the way. I am sure there will be many more in the future – although being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever!” For more information about us, visit www.pegsupport.co.uk or search for 'PEGS' on social media!