Reunification is the process of bringing families together to heal while also holding the person who sexually harmed accountable for their behaviors and ensuring safety for the victim. Reunification after child sexual abuse can bring up intense and confusing feelings as the child who experienced the sexual abuse may wish to reunite with the person who harmed them but also feel hurt and confused about why they were victimized.
Often for youth who have acted out sexually, the victim is a family member increasing the likelihood that the family unit will want or need to interact in some way in the future. It is important to remember that the person who was sexually harmed should have control of the reunification process and at any point, if they wish to not move forward, the process should stop immediately.