Hi, I’m Sharon.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) by day and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse 24/7.
I was in my 30s when someone saw me. She focused right in on my heart and soul, beyond the mask of my perfect life with great friends, loving family, financial security, respect in my community. She recognized my pain and brokenness. I was hanging onto a cliff by my fingertips, legs flailing but with a smile on my face. She ignored the smile and caught me before I fell and lost everything.
Sometimes all we need is someone to recognize our brokenness and say, “Hey, I see you. I was there too.”
For the first time in 25 years I felt safe enough to let go, and fell straight into a community of women who shared an abuse story similar to mine. They loved me, didn’t judge or condemn me. They set me on the path to healing from my childhood sexual abuse (CSA).
I’d love to tell you that the journey to healing is brief. Maybe tell you that if you listen to everything your therapist suggests, follow a well-laid plan, read all the research on trauma, that your journey will be short. Perhaps you’ll be lucky and that will work but, more likely, it will not.
Recovery doesn’t stop with even the best of trauma therapy. Without going into a bunch of neuroscience research, which I can talk about all day long, because of our trauma we develop unhealthy patterns of coping with the intense and horrible feelings and thoughts that come along with trauma. Bulimia, anorexia, drug and alcohol addiction, risky sex, overspending can all be ways we use to repress, numb, forget and ignore the searing pain of abuse. And, it’s not only unhealthy behaviors developed but unhealthy ways of thinking—anxiety and depression which can leave us unable to maintain healthy relationships, hold down a job or even get out of bed in the morning. Patterns, especially those in place for a long time, are hard to break.
Recovery is Hard-Work
Recovery from the impact of abuse is hard-work, and it takes time. It took me far longer than it could have and that’s why I’m here offering a supplement to your trauma therapy work. Yup, a supplement to your one- on-one therapy work because therapy work is a non-negotiable if you want to secure healing from CSA. Trauma therapy is the foundation on which we build the rest of the plan for healing.
So, here’s what I’m offering in this community. A platform to address the primary areas impacted by CSA:
· Physical Health
· Emotional/Mental Health
· Relationships
· Self-Image (Relationship with self)
· Spiritual Health
· Financial Health
Trauma therapy is not the goal or vision for this community. If you need help to find a qualified therapist in your area please check out psychologytoday.com. This community is a resource to recover, heal, restore, post-trauma therapy work. A safe community of women working toward altering harmful coping patterns that protected us for 10, 20, maybe even 50+ years. A place to learn and practice skills, and to connect with others who share a survivor story. A place where hope grows. Where we grab hold of a life of vibrancy, joy, and peace with the knowledge that trauma no longer has a say. Childhood sexual abuse no longer runs our lives.
Standing by your side,
Sharon
