Episode 148: Sibling Abuse Series: “Just Listen”: Disclosure, Parental Response, and Healing After Sibling Abuse

In this powerful episode, Dr. Meyers speaks with PJ Pacifico, a survivor of sibling sexual abuse, about the complicated and often painful journey of disclosure, family response, and healing.
PJ shares his experience of being abused by his sister and the impact of carrying that experience for years before disclosing it to his father. He describes the devastating response he received when his disclosure was met not with curiosity, compassion, or support, but with denial, emotional abuse, and hurtful attacks. Ultimately, PJ made the difficult decision to end contact in order to protect his own well-being.
This conversation explores a critical but often overlooked part of sibling abuse: what happens after a survivor speaks. PJ emphasizes the importance of a parent’s response—the power of simply listening, creating safety, and believing a survivor’s experience rather than rushing to defend, deny, or minimize. This episode is a reminder that disclosure is not the end of the story. How families respond can shape the path toward healing.
P.J. Pacifico is an American singer/songwriter and recording artist with multiple releases on Viper Records. After touring the US & Europe for a number of years as a solo artist, P.J. settled into the songwriting world in 2015 after signing Razor & Tie Music Publishing for licensing. His music has been heard on ABC, FOX, HBO, SyFy, MTV and more. Through songwriting sessions in LA and Nashville, P.J.’s new project, Signals in Smoke, was born. The band’s debut single, ‘Coming Up For Air’, debuted on Grey’s Anatomy and sent the song to #1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter chart and featured on Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist. His most recent album, 'What I Missed in the Mirror' - along with over 12 new singles released within the last year - are all streaming now.