Am I a bad person because I sexually harmed a child when I was younger?

No, you are not a bad person. There are many reasons why a kid may cross a sexual boundary or sexually harm another child. But none of them mean that you are a bad person. Ultimately, a child who crosses a sexual boundary deserves understanding, compassion, and an opportunity to learn safer behaviors.

People struggling to understand their harmful sexual behaviors as kids often want to know if this makes them someone who will go on to abuse others. It’s important to know that a child with problematic sexual behavior can grow up to be a sexually safe person. It’s important that everyone understands what healthy and safe behavior looks like, explores why these behaviors might have happened as a child, and learns how to take meaningful action steps now to be safe.

Reflecting back on our behaviors as younger children is not easy, and it can bring up feelings of guilt, shame, and confusion. This can leave a person wondering what to do next. You’ve already taken such a brave step by asking these questions, and now you can decide how to move forward in a way that feels safe for everyone.

Check out our blog “I can’t stop feeling guilty about something I did with my brother when we were little” and reach out to our helpline to learn more about how to navigate your next steps. This can understandably feel overwhelming, so our counselors are here to support you and offer guidance.