What to Do the Moment Your Child Discloses Abuse

If your child just told you something terrible — or if you're afraid they're trying to — this conversation is for you.

Lisa sits down with Julia Hochstadt, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma, childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. Julia works with adolescents (15+) and adults, including many parents navigating high-conflict custody situations where their children may be in danger. She also testifies as an expert witness in DV and intimate partner violence cases.

This interview was recorded during Sexual Assault Awareness Month — but Julia's guidance is something every protective parent needs to hear, no matter what month it is.

In this conversation, you'll hear:

→ The #1 thing Julia urges parents to do immediately when a child discloses abuse — and the exact words to say
→ Why disclosures can sound unbelievable — and why that doesn't mean they're not true
→ How years of gaslighting from an abusive partner erode your ability to trust your own instincts (and what to do about it)
→ The behavioral signs that should prompt a protective parent to lean in — not wait and watch
→ A practical, age-appropriate framework for building a child's safety plan — including how to plan for different times of day, different scenarios, and changing circumstances
→ Why Julia compares child safety planning to how the fire department talks about home fire safety — and why you should revisit it every time life transitions happen
→ What research says about the #1 protective factor for a child whose abuse was not properly addressed by the legal system
→ How to comfort a terrified child when you have to send them on a court-ordered exchange you know is unsafe

Lisa also shares a real situation she encountered that same morning: a mother whose child disclosed the worst kind of abuse, survived two investigations that were not acted upon, and is now being forced into a form of reunification therapy that's making things dramatically worse. Julia's guidance for this mother, and for the many parents in this community who are living this nightmare, is both clinically grounded and deeply human.

ABOUT JULIA HOCHSTADT, LCSW

Julia is a licensed clinical social worker licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey. She specializes in primary and secondary survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She does training, education, and outreach nationally, and testifies as an expert witness in DV and IPV cases. She is also available for consultation to individuals and clinicians nationwide.

Website: https://therapywithjulia.com

#ChildAbuse #ChildSafety #ParentalAlienation #HighConflictDivorce #ProtectiveParent #DomesticViolence #SafetyPlanning #ChildDisclosure #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #CustodyBattle #CoParenting #TraumaTherapist #BeenThereGotOut