The continuing story of reporting abuse and rape to the church and police. Shared in order to support survivors who wish to report and to support good practice by those whose job it is to respond, within a truth and restoration perspective. #Trigger warning# I will never share details of my abuse, but mentioning what
Tag: abuse
Pain #metoo #churchtoo
In the abuse survivor peer group I belong to, we often discuss emotional suffering – “how much you hurt as a human being” (Shniedman 1996). We experience it as deep and contemporaneous, even when the trauma is not recent. At times we characterise it as despairing, dissociative, represented by Van Gogh’s image, Sorrowing old man
Therapy in seclusion
Some thoughts on the experience and practice of geographically ‘secluded’ therapy. Research into online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – in terms of measured outcomes – suggests it can be at least as effective as face to face therapy (Lewis et al. 2018). But is that true for all kinds of psychotherapy? And in what ways
Rising from the Swamp. Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 2020 #ItsNotOK #metoo #churchtoo
In December I started writing a series of blogs about my experience of reporting rape and sexual abuse by two Church of England clergy. Why am I doing this now, many years after the abuse happened? I wrote on the first blog: “I carry my shame on my back, it hides and burdens me. I
Cracking the shell of secrecy #metoo #churchtoo #2
The continuing story of my experience reporting abuse and rape to the church and police. I am writing it to support survivors who may wish to report, and to share good practice with those who’s job it is to respond, with a focus on truth, justice and restoration. #Trigger warning# I will never share salacious
Small heart gathers courage #metoo #churchtoo #1
“The human heart is too small to bear it” Gertrude the Great Today I celebrate my 60th year. But that is not why this year is a milestone for me. This year I was powerfully reminded that my heart is too small to bear the bitter-sweetness of life on my own. I need to draw
Untamed
To celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to share a poem I wrote to celebrate the resilience, capacity, creativity, wildness, and wisdom of women. Especially those of us who have faced abuse, oppression, violence, loss and trauma. Who have survived, overcome, risen, transcended. Who refuse to be caged, crushed, condemned, tainted or tamed. I was