Discussion question: Explain the importance of completing a child abuse assessment at the onset of mental health counseling as well as continuing to assess for this throughout the course of treatment. Classmate response: It is is extremely important for counselors to asses children for sexual abuse because it is more then likely that the child has reported the abuse. Abused children will not report the abuse to older individuals like parents, teachers, etc., but are more likely to tell a peer that is around their age. A predator finds a child who is likely to be an easy target because of poverty, helplessness, or gullibility. When a child has discovered this, the offender would often start "grooming" the child for sexual assault by beginning with platonic interaction. This behavior will escalate to more sexual contact. A child might be forced into a sexual relationship by tempting them with positive reinforcement such as gifts and/ or punishment. Some children who have been abused tend to act out in behaviors that are not based on their age. Mental trauma caused by traumatic events can affect a child's ability to manage their emotions and in order to survive, the child separates themselves from the trauma. Counselors should wait for a time of stability, security, and regular routines before beginning therapy that focuses on their abuse (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2018).