MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
I. INTRODUCTION.
Wilbert Harp appeals as a matter of right1 from his convictions for indecent exposure, first-degree sodomy, and seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Because the jury instructions on the seven sexual abuse counts were identical, containing no identifying characteristics that required the jury to differentiate among each of the counts, we reverse Harp’s sexual abuse convictions. We otherwise affirm Harp’s indecent exposure or sodomy convictions.
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY.
Harp moved in with his girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter, B.B. According to B.B., Harp began sexually molesting her sometime after they all moved to a different apartment several months later. According to B.B., Harp engaged in a variety of sexual acts with her while her mother was at work. B.B. eventually disclosed the incidents to her mother, but the mother took no action at that time because Harp assured the mother that nothing improper was occurring.
While B.B. and her aunt were looking at a magazine that contained an advertisement depicting a couple kissing, B.B. told the aunt that Harp had done the same thing to her. The aunt reported B.B.’s [817]*817statements, which eventually led to Harp’s being questioned by the police. Harp admitted inappropriate contact with B.B. but blamed the contact on B.B.’s curiosity about sex. After being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, Harp wrote a letter to his psychologist describing sexual contact with B.B. but, again, blaming B.B. for the contact.
Harp was ultimately indicted for one count of first-degree sodomy, seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and one count of indecent exposure. A jury convicted Harp on all charges contained in the indictment. Harp was sentenced to twenty-five years for the sodomy conviction; two and one-half years’ imprisonment on each sexual abuse conviction; and ninety days for the indecent exposure conviction, all to run concurrently. This appeal followed.
III. ANALYSIS.
Harp raises six issues. He contends that the trial court erred by (1) admitting the letter he wrote to his psychologist, (2) admitting evidence of sexual contact with B.B. not charged in the indictment, (3) finding B.B. competent to testify, (4) allowing improper bolstering of B.B.’s testimony, (5) failing to direct a verdict on the indecent exposure charge, and (6) failing to instruct the jury properly because the instructions on multiple counts of first-degree sex abuse failed to require the jury to make separate factual findings and reach a unanimous verdict on each count.
Because we agree with Harp that the jury instructions regarding the sexual abuse charges were erroneous, we shall discuss that issue first. Since the flawed sexual abuse instructions caused Harp no discernible prejudice in the sodomy and indecent exposure convictions, we affirm those convictions. We must also address the remaining issues because they are either pertinent to the sodomy or indecent exposure convictions, or concern matters likely to arise upon remand of the sexual abuse charges.
A. Trial Court Committed Reversible Error in Failing to Add Distinguishing Characteristics to Each Sexual Abuse Charge.
Harp argues that it was error for the trial court not to add language to each of the seven sexual abuse instructions so that the jury would be required to distinguish from the evidence one count from another. We agree.
Each sexual abuse instruction was identical and read, in pertinent part, as follows:
You will find the defendant, Wilbert Hiatt Harp, guilty under this Instruction if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, all of the following:
(a) That in this county, between the 1st day of December 2008 and the 1st day of February 2006, the defendant subjected [B.B.] to sexual contact;
AND
(b) That at the time of such contact, [B.B.] was less than 12 years of age.
We have previously held that “when multiple offenses are charged in a single indictment, the Commonwealth must introduce evidence sufficient to prove each offense and to differentiate each count from the others, and the jury must be separately instructed on each charged offense.”2 Thus, we have clearly held — before Harp’s trial — that a trial court errs in a case involving multiple charges if its instructions to the jury fail “factually [to] differentiate between the separate offenses.”3 Very recently — after Harp’s trial — we sim[818]*818ilarly reinforced that holding by again explaining that “[w]hen the evidence is sufficient to support multiple counts of the same offense, the jury instructions must be tailored to the testimony in order to differentiate each count from the others.”4
Based on this precedent, it is apparent that the trial court erred by submitting seven identical sexual abuse instructions to the jury. We again instruct the bench and bar of the Commonwealth that in a case involving multiple counts of the same offense, a trial court is obliged to include some sort of identifying characteristic in each instruction that will require the jury to determine whether it is satisfied from the evidence the existence of facts proving that each of the separately charged offenses occurred.
Having found that the instructions at issue were erroneous, we now turn to the more difficult question of whether that error may be deemed harmless. Despite our earlier statements seemingly to the contrary, we now hold that a failure to include proper identifying characteristics in jury instructions is reversible error, provided that a timely objection to the error has been made.
We recognize, of course, that an erroneous jury instruction may sometimes be an unfortunate, yet ultimately harmless error.5 But a party claiming that an erroneous jury instruction, or an erroneous failure to give a necessary jury instruction, bears a steep burden because we have held that “[i]n this jurisdiction it is a rule of longstanding and frequent repetition that erroneous instructions to the jury are presumed to be prejudicial; that an appellee claiming harmless error bears the burden of showing affirmatively that no prejudice resulted from the error.”6 Regrettably, we have sometimes failed to utilize the presumption of prejudice associated with erroneous jury instructions in at least some of our recent decisions.7 However, to clear up any possible confusion among the bench and bar of the Commonwealth, we now expressly return and adhere to the presumption of prejudice inherent in an erroneous instruction as expressed in McKinney. Of course, that presumption can be successfully rebutted by showing that the error “did not affect the verdict or judgment.”8 But viewed through that proper procedural lens, the erroneous instructions in the case at hand cannot be deemed harmless.
[819]*819Our precedent of longstanding leaves no doubt that we have adhered to the “bare bones” principle of jury instructions.9
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MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
I. INTRODUCTION.
Wilbert Harp appeals as a matter of right1 from his convictions for indecent exposure, first-degree sodomy, and seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse. Because the jury instructions on the seven sexual abuse counts were identical, containing no identifying characteristics that required the jury to differentiate among each of the counts, we reverse Harp’s sexual abuse convictions. We otherwise affirm Harp’s indecent exposure or sodomy convictions.
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY.
Harp moved in with his girlfriend and her four-year-old daughter, B.B. According to B.B., Harp began sexually molesting her sometime after they all moved to a different apartment several months later. According to B.B., Harp engaged in a variety of sexual acts with her while her mother was at work. B.B. eventually disclosed the incidents to her mother, but the mother took no action at that time because Harp assured the mother that nothing improper was occurring.
While B.B. and her aunt were looking at a magazine that contained an advertisement depicting a couple kissing, B.B. told the aunt that Harp had done the same thing to her. The aunt reported B.B.’s [817]*817statements, which eventually led to Harp’s being questioned by the police. Harp admitted inappropriate contact with B.B. but blamed the contact on B.B.’s curiosity about sex. After being admitted to a psychiatric hospital, Harp wrote a letter to his psychologist describing sexual contact with B.B. but, again, blaming B.B. for the contact.
Harp was ultimately indicted for one count of first-degree sodomy, seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and one count of indecent exposure. A jury convicted Harp on all charges contained in the indictment. Harp was sentenced to twenty-five years for the sodomy conviction; two and one-half years’ imprisonment on each sexual abuse conviction; and ninety days for the indecent exposure conviction, all to run concurrently. This appeal followed.
III. ANALYSIS.
Harp raises six issues. He contends that the trial court erred by (1) admitting the letter he wrote to his psychologist, (2) admitting evidence of sexual contact with B.B. not charged in the indictment, (3) finding B.B. competent to testify, (4) allowing improper bolstering of B.B.’s testimony, (5) failing to direct a verdict on the indecent exposure charge, and (6) failing to instruct the jury properly because the instructions on multiple counts of first-degree sex abuse failed to require the jury to make separate factual findings and reach a unanimous verdict on each count.
Because we agree with Harp that the jury instructions regarding the sexual abuse charges were erroneous, we shall discuss that issue first. Since the flawed sexual abuse instructions caused Harp no discernible prejudice in the sodomy and indecent exposure convictions, we affirm those convictions. We must also address the remaining issues because they are either pertinent to the sodomy or indecent exposure convictions, or concern matters likely to arise upon remand of the sexual abuse charges.
A. Trial Court Committed Reversible Error in Failing to Add Distinguishing Characteristics to Each Sexual Abuse Charge.
Harp argues that it was error for the trial court not to add language to each of the seven sexual abuse instructions so that the jury would be required to distinguish from the evidence one count from another. We agree.
Each sexual abuse instruction was identical and read, in pertinent part, as follows:
You will find the defendant, Wilbert Hiatt Harp, guilty under this Instruction if you believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, all of the following:
(a) That in this county, between the 1st day of December 2008 and the 1st day of February 2006, the defendant subjected [B.B.] to sexual contact;
AND
(b) That at the time of such contact, [B.B.] was less than 12 years of age.
We have previously held that “when multiple offenses are charged in a single indictment, the Commonwealth must introduce evidence sufficient to prove each offense and to differentiate each count from the others, and the jury must be separately instructed on each charged offense.”2 Thus, we have clearly held — before Harp’s trial — that a trial court errs in a case involving multiple charges if its instructions to the jury fail “factually [to] differentiate between the separate offenses.”3 Very recently — after Harp’s trial — we sim[818]*818ilarly reinforced that holding by again explaining that “[w]hen the evidence is sufficient to support multiple counts of the same offense, the jury instructions must be tailored to the testimony in order to differentiate each count from the others.”4
Based on this precedent, it is apparent that the trial court erred by submitting seven identical sexual abuse instructions to the jury. We again instruct the bench and bar of the Commonwealth that in a case involving multiple counts of the same offense, a trial court is obliged to include some sort of identifying characteristic in each instruction that will require the jury to determine whether it is satisfied from the evidence the existence of facts proving that each of the separately charged offenses occurred.
Having found that the instructions at issue were erroneous, we now turn to the more difficult question of whether that error may be deemed harmless. Despite our earlier statements seemingly to the contrary, we now hold that a failure to include proper identifying characteristics in jury instructions is reversible error, provided that a timely objection to the error has been made.
We recognize, of course, that an erroneous jury instruction may sometimes be an unfortunate, yet ultimately harmless error.5 But a party claiming that an erroneous jury instruction, or an erroneous failure to give a necessary jury instruction, bears a steep burden because we have held that “[i]n this jurisdiction it is a rule of longstanding and frequent repetition that erroneous instructions to the jury are presumed to be prejudicial; that an appellee claiming harmless error bears the burden of showing affirmatively that no prejudice resulted from the error.”6 Regrettably, we have sometimes failed to utilize the presumption of prejudice associated with erroneous jury instructions in at least some of our recent decisions.7 However, to clear up any possible confusion among the bench and bar of the Commonwealth, we now expressly return and adhere to the presumption of prejudice inherent in an erroneous instruction as expressed in McKinney. Of course, that presumption can be successfully rebutted by showing that the error “did not affect the verdict or judgment.”8 But viewed through that proper procedural lens, the erroneous instructions in the case at hand cannot be deemed harmless.
[819]*819Our precedent of longstanding leaves no doubt that we have adhered to the “bare bones” principle of jury instructions.9 Indeed, former Chief Justice Pal-more apparently coined the “bare bones” phrase in a 1974 civil case, although the phrase has been similarly applied to criminal cases.10 We have explained this bare bones approach to instructions as meaning that as a general matter, “evidentiary matters should be omitted from the instructions and left to the lawyers to flesh out in closing arguments.”11 Or, as we more recently explained, jury instructions should tell the jury what it must believe from the evidence in order to resolve each dispositive factual issue while still “providing enough information to a jury to make it aware of the respective legal duties of the parties.”12
We remain committed to the bare bones instructional principle, confident that it works well in most cases to “pare down unfamiliar and often complicated issues in a manner that jurors, who are often not familiar with legal principles, can understand.”13 But instructions must not be so bare bones as to be misleading or misstate the law.14
As mentioned, we have determined that the law requires specific identifiers to be placed in each count in a case involving multiple counts of the same offense. So a failure to include at least some basic evi-dentiary identification in the sexual abuse instructions at hand was a misstatement of the law. Furthermore, the lack of specificity in the instructions readily lends itself to a potential unanimity problem.15
No doubt able counsel could — and in this case, did — attempt to “flesh out” the generic sexual abuse instructions in closing argument by telling the jury which specific act of sexual abuse was covered by which specific count of the charges. And, in dictum, we have appeared to approve of such attempted corrective and curative action by the Commonwealth.
Earlier this year, in Bell v. Commonwealth, we encountered a similar situation whereby a trial court gave multiple jury instructions on sexual offenses without including any distinguishing characteristics.16 And earlier in the opinion, we had already held that Bell’s convictions must be reversed due to the trial court’s unduly coercive actions during jury deliberá-[820]*820tions.17 But we exercised our discretion to address the jury instruction issue because it was likely to occur on retrial.18 We held that the failure to include any distinguishing characteristics in the instructions was error but found that the error would have been harmless because
[t]he Commonwealth, in its closing, identified the five distinct incidents [of rape or sexual abuse]. Because the jury ultimately found Bell guilty of all five counts of sexual abuse, it can be rationally and fairly deduced that each juror believed Bell was guilty of the five distinct incidents identified by the Commonwealth.19
In essence, our imprecise and unfortunate dictum in Bell can be taken to stand for the proposition that able counsel may “cure” a defective jury instruction in closing argument. But we very recently made it clear in a unanimous opinion that jury instructions, which a jury is presumed to follow, must be based solely upon the evidence; and “an attorney’s arguments do not constitute evidence.”20 Therefore, we reached the plain conclusion that “the arguments of counsel are not sufficient to rehabilitate otherwise erroneous or imprecise jury instructions.”21
Our conclusion that arguments of counsel cannot rehabilitate erroneous jury instructions is directly in accordance with the United States Supreme Court’s pronouncement that “arguments of counsel cannot substitute for instructions by the court” because a defendant’s right to have the jury base its deliberations solely upon the evidence cannot be “permitted to hinge upon a hope that defense counsel will be a more effective advocate” than the prosecution.22 Or, in other words, the concept of fleshing out bare bones instructions permits counsel to attempt to explain the instructions to the jury but does not permit counsel to attempt to correct erroneous jury instructions.
Based on the foregoing, it is clear that the instructional error in the case at hand was not cured by the Commonwealth’s closing argument. Indeed, we have previously stated in a similar case that if the issue had been preserved, we would have found a similar instructional error to necessitate reversal.23 Likewise, we find that the Commonwealth has failed [821]*821to overcome the presumption of prejudice in the case at hand,24 meaning that the failure to include identifying language in the sexual abuse instructions necessitates reversal of Harp’s sexual abuse convictions. Bell is overruled to the extent that its dictum suggests that a failure to include the requisite specific identifying language in jury instructions can be rendered a harmless error by the curative powers of counsel’s closing argument.25
B. No Error in Admitting Letter to Psychologist.
Harp contends that it was error to admit into evidence a letter he wrote while being treated at a psychiatric hospital. We disagree.
As we have stated many times, we may disturb a trial court’s decision to admit evidence only if that decision is an abuse of discretion.26 And a trial judge’s decision represents an abuse of discretion only if the decision “was arbitrary, unreasonable, unfair, or unsupported by sound legal principles.”27
Generally, Kentucky Rules of Evidence (KRE) 507 protects information gathered by a “psychotherapist”28 from disclosure.29 But the General Assembly has expressly abolished the patient privilege in child abuse cases.30 And the case at hand is a criminal proceeding involving an abused child — B.B.31 So KRS 620.050(3) applies, meaning that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the letter.32
[822]*822C. No Error to Admit Evidence of Other Crimes, Wrongs, or Bad Acts.
Before trial, the Commonwealth gave notice that it intended to introduce evidence of all sexual contact between Harp and B.B., regardless of whether the conduct was specifically contained in the indictment against Harp. Harp unsuccessfully sought to exclude the evidence of uncharged sexual contact with B.B., which the trial court denied. On appeal, Harp contends that the admission of the evidence in question was erroneous. We disagree.
KRE 404(b) provides that “[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show action in conformity therewith.” However, such evidence is admissible if offered for another purpose, “such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent, preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or accident” 33 In determining the admissibility of KRE 404(b) evidence, we focus upon three matters: (1) relevance, (2) probativeness, and (3) prejudice.34 As stated previously, we may reverse a trial court’s decision to admit evidence only if that decision represents an abuse of discretion.35
The Commonwealth bore the burden of proving each element of each charge against Harp beyond a reasonable doubt.36 Thus, the Commonwealth was required to offer proof of Harp’s intent.37 Accordingly, the evidence of other sexual contact between Harp and B.B., including, among other things, Harp’s exposing his genitals to B.B. on multiple occasions, was both highly relevant and probative. Additionally, the evidence Harp challenges on appeal also was admissible as proof of at least identity and absence of mistake or accident.38
As we have definitively held, “evidence of similar acts perpetrated against the same victim are almost always admissible ....”39 And we do not perceive that any prejudice suffered by Harp was sufficient to overcome the general rule regarding admissibility of similar acts perpetrat[823]*823ed against the same victim. Thus, we find no error in the trial court’s decision to admit the KRE 404(b) evidence in question.
D. No Error in Finding B.B. Competent to Testify.
Harp contends that the trial court erred by finding B.B. competent to testify. We disagree.
Under KRE 601, a witness is competent if the witness can “perceive accurately that about which she is to testify, can recall the facts, can express herself intelligibly, and can understand the need to tell the truth. The competency bar is low with a child’s competency depending on her level of development and upon the subject matter at hand.”40 Of particular bearing to this case is the fact that “[a]ge is not determinative of competency[,] and there is no minimum age for testimonial capacity.”41 Because “[t]he trial court is in the unique position to observe witnesses and to determine their competency[,]” we have held fast to the principle that “[t]he trial court has the sound discretion to determine whether a witness is competent to testify.”42
B.B. demonstrated that she knew such fundamental factual things as her age, date of birth, grade level, school name, and teacher’s name. She also was able to recall her latest birthday party and Christmas presents, as well as the names of her former schools. At trial, B.B. identified Harp as the perpetrator and was able to provide details of the acts committed against her by Harp. Importantly, B.B. indicated when she was unable to recall a fact or event.
A witness is not deemed incompetent solely because of young age or inability to recall each and every detail of life with mathematical precision. And B.B. demonstrated a sufficient ability to recall the most pertinent facts intelligibly while knowing the importance of telling the truth. So from our review of the record, we are satisfied that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding B.B. competent to testify.43
E. No Bolstering of B.B.’s Testimony Sufficient to Constitute a Palpable Error Occurred.
Harp contends that B.B.’s testimony was improperly bolstered by the testimony of Valerie Mason, a forensic interviewer, and Detective Rhonda Speaker of the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Crimes Against Children Unit. Harp admits that this issue is unpreserved. So our review is limited to determining if any error is palpable.44 An error is palpable only if it “is so manifest, fundamental and unambiguous that it threatens the integrity of the judicial process.”45
We question whether bolstering occurred at all in this case. Even assuming that it did, we disagree with Harp’s [824]*824contention that any bolstering constituted a palpable error.
Generally, “a witness’s credibility may not be bolstered until it has been attacked.”46 However, the testimony at issue is not a bolstering of B.B.’s testimony. Indeed, neither Mason nor Speaker directly spoke of B.B.’s character for truthfulness. However, the jury could have inferred that Mason was indirectly vouching for B.B.’s credibility by testifying about things like the fact that she had conducted more than 3,000 interviews with children but that not all of those cases resulted in the issuance of charges. Similarly, the jury could have inferred that Speaker was indirectly vouching for B.B.’s credibility by testifying that she had investigated cases where she had found insufficient evidence to charge a suspect. It is important to note, however, that B.B.’s credibility was not totally unchallenged because some evidence was introduced showing that B.B.’s own mother allegedly did not believe B.B. when she first disclosed Harp’s alleged sexual misconduct.
Because neither Mason nor Speaker directly vouched for B.B.’s credibility, we question whether any improper bolstering of B.B.’s credibility occurred. But even if we assume for argument that Mason and Speaker’s testimony constitutes, at most, an indirect bolstering of B.B.’s credibility, that error is simply not so fundamental and intolerable as to have threatened the integrity of the trial. In short, the fact that a jury may have been able to infer that a witness was, at most, indirectly vouching for the credibility of another witness is simply not the stuff from which palpable errors are made.
F. Trial Court Properly Denied Directed Verdict as to Indecent Exposure Charge.
Harp contends that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict on the indecent exposure charge. We disagree.47
The familiar standard for ruling on a motion for directed verdict is as follows:
On motion for directed verdict, the trial court must draw all fair and reasonable inferences from the evidence in favor of the Commonwealth. If the evidence is sufficient to induce a reasonable juror to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty, a directed verdict should not be given. For the purpose of ruling on the motion, the trial court must assume that the evidence for the Commonwealth is true, but reserving to the jury questions as to the credibility and weight to be given to such testimony.
On appellate review, the test of a directed verdict is, if under the evidence as a whole, it would be clearly unreasonable for a jury to find guilt, only then the defendant is entitled to a directed verdict of acquittal.48
A person commits the offense of indecent exposure in the first degree if he “intentionally exposes his genitals under [825]*825circumstances in which he knows or should know that his conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm to a person under the age of eighteen (18) years.”49 The jury instruction on this charge was in accordance with KRS 510.148(1). Nevertheless, Harp contends that the indecent exposure charge merged with the sexual abuse charge.
B.B. testified that once Harp showed her his penis and masturbated in front of her to the point of ejaculation. That specific episode could not have been simultaneously covered by a sexual abuse charge because exposure of Harp’s penis without any touching of or by B.B. would have been insufficient to have constituted sexual abuse.50 Thus, it was clearly not unreasonable for the jury to find Harp guilty of indecent exposure.51
IV. CONCLUSION.
For the foregoing reasons, Wilbert Harp’s indecent exposure and sodomy convictions are affirmed. Harp’s sexual abuse convictions are vacated, and those offenses are remanded to the trial court for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
All sitting. MINTON, C.J.; ABRAMSON, CUNNINGHAM, NOBLE, and VENTERS, JJ., concur.
SCHRODER, J., concurs in result only by separate opinion. SCOTT, J., concurs in part and dissents in part by separate opinion.