Cast:
Dr. Tara Egan, host
Anna, teen co-host
Nicol Stolar Peterson, LCSW and Expert Witness - guest expert

Today Tara and Anna welcome guest expert, Nicol Stolar Peterson. Nicol has been working with children and their families for over 20 years and has completed hundreds of child abuse investigations including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, domestic violence exposure and child deaths. Nicol works as a consultant and subject matter expert on cases involving CPS, child abuse, forensic interviewing, family law, adoptions and child custody.  Parents, caregivers, and therapists---you need to tune in today to learn all about Nicol and the work that she does as she talks with us today about her experience AND how we can "Identify Child Abuse and Maltreatment."

We start off our talk asking Nicol, what the definition of child abuse is so we are all clear, because it is often not clear cut and can be characterized as a broad spectrum. Child abuse can be physical and emotional injury, and sexual abuse.  It can be harm to the point of death, injuries like bruise, broken bones, and shaken. Neglect is all encompassing; the child is starved or parent doesn't keep them safe, etc. 

Listen in to learn:

- some basic information about child abuse.
- common characteristics of people who become abusers.
- about having conversations with our girls and boys about personal safety.
- how some parents are groomed before the kid by offenders.
- importance of monitoring cell phones and social media.
- if there needs to be an age discrepancy between the child and their abuser for it to be deemed abuse.
-signs that your child is being or has been abused.
- risk factors for abuse (living with a substance abuser, having a disability, etc).
-how professionals assess for abuse.

This is such an important topic! If you have reasonable suspicion about a behavior or a person, make that phone call. These kids need to have support, protection and someone asking the right questions.

The book  Nicol mentioned about trusting your gut and intuition is, The Gift of Fear by Gavin De Becker.
To learn more about Nicol's work, go to kc-cc.org kids court.

To learn more about Dr. Tara Egan's child & adolescent therapy services, visit HERE.
Learn more about Dr. Tara Egan's books, webinars, public speaking opportunities, and coaching/consultation services RIGHT HERE.

To join our private FB group for parents of high schoolers and soon-to-be high schoolers, visit HERE.
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To learn more about Dr. Egan's online mini-course called "Managing Your Family's Technology and Social Media", created to help parents eliminate power struggles, keep your family safe from internet misuse, and reconnect with your family, go HERE.

Podcast edited by Christian Fox