New problem

My step daughter has always wet the bed. My husband and I try to help her as much as we can when she comes for the summer. Last year her mother told us that she started to poop in her pants at home and in school. We didn't have any trouble last summer with this issue nor did we have any problems in this area while she was here over the Christmas break. Now it is time for her to come over again this summer and her mother said she is in counseling for the pooping in her pants issue. When and if we get her this summer, how can we help her? Are there physical reasons for this or could there be deeper issues of abuse? Where do I start?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The most likely medical issue is constipation/impacted bowels, and she should be evaluated for this. Is there any reason you should worry about sexual abuse? It is unlikely that her difficulty is symptomatic of that. While she is with you, offer her the most stable family environment that you can. You needn't do anything of a specialized nature.