For example, in bona fide sexual abuse situations, the mother and the child tend to be embarrassed, whereas in fabricated abuse situations, they tend to be open in their accusations. The characteristics are highly developed and have certain variables for age and other factors. Because the differentiating criteria can be thwarted by other factors, continued therapy following the diagnostic period is helpful in reaching a final determination. A therapist should be appointed for the child on the assumption that the child is being mistreated, either by sexual abuse or by malicious manipulation. Although not conclusive, these tests reveal certain traits that are consistent with child sexual abuse and certain traits that are often found in mothers who falsely accuse their spouses of incest.
Time is of the essence when a father is confronted with sexual abuse allegations.
If his contact with the child is interrupted for an extended period in an environment charged with accusations from the mother, his relationship with the child can be permanently damaged. In addition, research indicates that repeated interviews of the child before evaluation can be damaging to the child and affect the validity of the test results. Make a motion immediately that the mother and the child submit to psychological evaluation. The best alternative is for the child to be interviewed by one psychologist who has been trained in child sexual abuse assessments. Psychological testing for alleged sexual abuse is still uncharted territory for many judges, and one should not assume that a judge will know the pitfalls involved in the usual processes.