A trauma therapist suggests the Duggar family's response to their son Josh's abuse of his sisters may have allowed harmful patterns to escalate, potentially connecting to the recent arrest of another son, Joseph.
After learning of Josh's actions two decades ago, parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar sent him to a Christian training center for manual labor and 'lust' counseling instead of professional therapy. Expert Shari Botwin calls this a major 'red flag' that failed to address the core issue.
Botwin explains that when families minimize or cover up sibling abuse, it often continues and escalates, leading to more trauma and mental health issues for everyone involved. She emphasizes that such problems cannot be resolved by simply sending a child away for a short period.
The therapist also notes that the conservative, secretive environment in which the Duggars were raised can exacerbate such issues by preventing open discussion about sexuality and abuse.
Despite the severity, Botwin asserts healing is possible through intensive, long-term family therapy where all parties can openly address what happened.