Evaluating allegations of sexual abuse when the alleged victim is preverbal or minimally verbal and when the alleged perpetrator is a parent or caregiver is one of the most difficult areas in clinical and forensic work. This paper describes a multimodal assessment process and decision-making characteristics that provide a much needed relationship-oriented approach to the problem, especially in light of recent research on the suggestibility of young children. The theoretical and clinical underpinnings for this approach are described. Two cases highlight the assessment process and decision-making characteristics.

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