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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Allen Lane Foundation Supports New Workshop Lead Role to Expand Support for Parents

By PEGS Admin • March 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Allen Lane Foundation has generously funded a new Workshop Lead role to coordinate and deliver online workshops for parents and carers affected by Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA) over the next 12 months. Parents and carers affected by CPA are often isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn. Our 2024 survey shows that 96% of parents feel isolated, 94% stressed, 92% scared, and 100% report an impact on emotional wellbeing. Over 70% have had to reduce or leave work. With demand for support rising to over 450 referrals per month and a 116% increase in November 2025 there is an urgent need for structured, accessible help. Expanding Online Workshops and 1:1 Support The new Workshop Lead will deliver a weekly online workshop for up to 15 participants, covering practical and emotional wellbeing topics such as stress management, goal-setting, and specialist techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Alongside the weekly sessions, the project will also run: Bi-monthly two-part specialist workshops Monthly wellbeing workshops By taking the lead on workshop delivery, the Workshop Lead will free up our practitioner team to provide more personalised one-to-one support to high-risk parents, reaching an additional estimated 50 parents in need. Over 12 months, we anticipate that over 200 parents will benefit directly from group workshops, gaining tools to manage risk, improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and build confidence. The workshops will also create a safe space for peer connection, helping to reduce isolation and foster resilience. Measuring Impact We will track success through attendance figures, participant feedback, and pre- and post-workshop surveys to capture changes in confidence, coping strategies, and wellbeing. Practitioners will also monitor the effect of increased one-to-one support to ensure parents feel safer, supported, and better able to manage their situation. Michelle John, our founding director, says: "Allen Lane Foundation’s continued support enables us to reach more parents and provide the practical guidance and personal support they urgently need. This Workshop Lead role will make a real difference, helping parents feel safer, more confident, and connected, while allowing our practitioners to provide targeted one-to-one support where it’s needed most." We are incredibly grateful to the Allen Lane Foundation for their ongoing belief in our work. This funding allows us to expand our online support, reach more parents, and provide both group and personalised assistance for those affected by CPA.