The Truth is Longer Than a Lie

The Truth is Longer Than a Lie provides important insights into children's experiences of abuse and their perception of professional intervention. Mudaly and Goddard promote the emerging child-centred approach to research, which provides children with an opportunity to talk about abuse and its effects on their lives, their views on the reasons for abuse, their opinions of abusers and non-offending parents and the dynamics of disclosing abuse. A section on children's perceptions of the professionals who intervened – to protect them, to prosecute the abuser, or to provide therapeutic counselling – sets the context for a discussion of how professionals can respond appropriately to individuals' needs. The authors also examine societal factors that increase children's vulnerability, and propose measures for preventing abuse. They outline the requirements of ethically sound research, including appropriate interviewing techniques, and conclude with suggestions for future research, drawing on feedback from abused children.The Truth is Longer Than a Lie is a key resource for social workers, child protection workers, counsellors, legal professionals and anyone working with abused children.