“I'm still not sure if I was a victim or not... and if I was, who was my abuser?” — Eskay Teel Copy Share Image
“Survivors of abuse show us the strength of their personal spirit every time they smile.” — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Those who support such survivors of abuse often find it difficult to hear the reality of those survivors' lives and experience and… — Laurie Matthew Copy Share Image
“The overarching principle of a therapeutic relationship is that therapists should be ever mindful of a variant of the Hippocratic oath and,… — Christine A. Courtois Copy Share Image
“There is a moment in our healing journey when our denial crumbles; we realize our experience and it's continued effects on us… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Dissociated trauma memories don't reveal themselves like ordinary memories. Like pieces of a puzzle, they escape the primitive part of our brain… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“... the silent client may be experienced as withholding, oppositional, and sulking or as holding the therapist "hostage" in ways that elicit… — Christine A. Courtois Copy Share Image
“Political prisoners describe: - extreme physical and emotional torture - distortion of language, truth, meaning and reality - sham killings - begin… — Laurie Matthew Copy Share Image
“Stuffing our memories might become familiar over the years, but it requires a mental vigilance that separates us from our inner world.… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“In the weeds of childhood sexual abuse, we are the sturdy flowers that kept reaching for a slip of sunshine and a… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Therapy must begin with empathy - not a patronizing sympathy, but instead one that is unflinching (Marotta, 2003). Empathy of this sort… — Christine A. Courtois Copy Share Image
“Sometimes, during our healing journeys, those closest to us can’t help even though we all wish it could be that way. Allow… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“I warned myself against the danger of compassion in this case. How easy it would be to imagine the traumas of childhood… — Dean Koontz Copy Share Image
“Some abusers organise themselves in groups to abuse children and other adults in a more formally ritualised way. Men and women in… — Laurie Matthew Copy Share Image
“If the therapist understands and does not take mistrust as personal affront, the therapeutic relationship can evolve gradually. The client can begin… — Christine A. Courtois Copy Share Image
“The government researchers,aware of the information in the professional journals, decided to reverse the process (of healing from hysteric dissociation). They decided… — Cheryl Hersha Lynn Hersha Copy Share Image
“You can recognize survivors of abuse by their courage. When silence is so very inviting, they step forward and share their truth… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“...some adolescent survivors describe feeling special, powerful, and sometimes entitled. This is especially true of those for whom excessive attention was part… — Christine A. Courtois Copy Share Image
“Trust of others is in short supply for many adult survivors, as complex trauma generally involves major relational betrayal. It is, therefore,… — Christine A. Courtois Copy Share Image
“The initial trauma of a young child may go underground but it will return to haunt us.” — James Garbarino Copy Share Image
“Like Jocelyn, Survivors often think: * That’s just the way I am * I’m not lovable, that’s why I keep having disastrous… — Carolyn Ainscough Copy Share Image
“You can recognize survivors by their creativity. In soulful, insightful, gentle, and nurturing creations, they often express the inner beauty they brought… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
“Narcissism: It's Primal. No Productive Control of Energy: Seeks constant fresh sources of stimulation and is highly energized running from human-object to… — Lynna Kivela Copy Share Image
“Ritualised child sexual abuse is about abuse of power, control and secrecy. Ten years ago many people found it difficult to believe… — Laurie Matthew Copy Share Image
“When we learn to recognize the unique quality of Memory-Dreams, we are empowered. The abused child within us is using them to… — Jeanne McElvaney Copy Share Image
