Social worker, Counsellor, Psychometrist, Educator and life-long student.

About me

So, let me share with you a bit about myself.

Hi, I am Melissa Luckhoff, married, mother of twins and lifelong student.

I have various degrees in social work, psychology, and teaching, and enjoys the creative process of developing and sharing empowering material. (Think that is the teacher in me :-)

I have been working as a social worker for 16+ years in South Africa, more specifically in Cape Town.

I love what I do in supporting teachers, parents and learners and is passionate about protecting children against abuse.

During lockdown I had more time to be creative and think of a different way of work! And this is were it all started.

Understanding sexual grooming in child abuse cases

If you are interested in learning more about the children at risk, tricks and techniques of sexual grooming, the typical process of grooming, and possible behavioural signs of sexual abuse, this course is for you. The training ends off with tips and resources on how to have a preventative / awareness conversation with children.

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According to Pollack and MacIver (2015) in many child sexual abuse cases, the abuse is preceded by sexual grooming. Sexual grooming is a preparatory process in which a perpetrator gradually gains a person’s or organization’s trust with the intent to be sexually abusive. The victim is usually a child, teen, or vulnerable adult.

Understanding sexual grooming and other sexual grooming behaviours can help professionals prevent sexual abuse before it occurs.

The purpose of grooming is three-fold:

to manipulate the perceptions of other adults around the child.
to manipulate the child into becoming a cooperating participant which reduces the likelihood of a disclosure and increases the likelihood that the child will repeatedly return to the offender.
to reduce the likelihood of the child being believed if they do disclose. (Pollack and MacIver,2015)

The importance of this information cannot be overstated for all professionals working with children and parents. In the words of Pollack and MacIver (2015) each victim who is groomed and sexually abused, we should question how it could have happened, how signs leading up to the abuse were missed. Knowledge, training, and awareness are our best weapons, and our best chance to prevent abuse before it occurs.

Therefore I developed a "Sexual grooming of children" online course, listed on Udemy.

If you click on this link, you can view part of the training for free!!

Udemy: Sexual grooming of children

FREE CHECKLIST on Sexual grooming of children included in course

LGBTQIA++ Awareness

If you are not part of the LGBTQ community, chances are that you are some what unfamiliar with the vast diversity in the LGBTQ community. You might want to be inclusive, but you are afraid you might use the wrong terms and be offensive or insulting. Well, then it is time to broaden your understanding of the LGBTQ community and vocabulary!

Learn more about differences in biological sex, gender identity, transgender as umbrella term and all the identities in transgender, sexual orientation and sexual identity. The root cause of LGBTQ discrimination, prejudice and stereotypes and learn some strategies to combat the bullying of the LGBTQ community.

If you click on the link, you can view part of the training for free!!

Udemy: LGBTQIA++ Awareness course

FREE GLOSSARY on LGBTQIA++ terms included in course

POWER of BIBLIOTHERAPY

FREE BIBLIOTHERAPY RESOURCE LIST : (click link below)
https://bibliotherapy.melissaluckhoff.co.za

CLICK HERE to download the FREE bibliotherapy children's book list grouped in the following themes: loss, divorce, bullying, making friends, mental health, perfection, behaviour, abuse, emotions & feelings.

See the magic happen, when you read a relevant themed-book to a child and have a conversation together. Introduce a new concept, normalise an issue, open a discussion, promote problem-solving skills or create awareness in a non-threatening manner with bibliotherapy.

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