The course of normal sexual development is dependent upon what
a child experiences within the family context. Although many chil-
dren experience sexual trauma perpetrated by nonfamily members,
and much sexual mislearning occurs outside the family, the sexual
attitudes and behaviors operating within the family system fre-
quently have the power either to compound the deleterious effects
of sexual trauma or to ameliorate the sexual mislearning. In some
cases the child is able to talk about and express feelings arising
from the event. This makes it more likely that a semblance of nor-
mal sexual development will occur. Understanding the perceptions
that the sexually disturbed person has formed of family members
when he or she was a child illuminates his or her view of family
sexuality, as well as his or her own sexual self-esteem. Moreover,
when a sexual trauma occurs, the manner in which it is treated by
family members determines the amount of damage done to the
child. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these incidents are han-
dled incorrectly, resulting in a disturbance that has lasting impact
on the child's sexual development.

While regression therapy with the sexually disturbed does not al-
ways include actual sessions with the family members, it is rarely
effective without knowledge of the family members and their sex-
ual identities, as perceived by the sexually disturbed person.
Changes in that perception are likely to occur throughout the

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