Hours of Torture, Years of Silence : My Soul Was the Scene of the Crime

Imagine for a moment ...

You find yourself in a warmly decorated, comforting office. A lamp in the corner casts a soft glow around the room furnished with a couch and chair in soft brown hues and lovely paintings on the wall. A man walks in ... he's professional, well-dressed and confident with kind, compassionate eyes. He addresses a girl in the room. She looks somewhat timid, even a bit scared but he asks how she's feeling today.

As she begins talking, you realize you're like a fly on the wall of his therapy office, privy to all that she's feeling and saying. Privy to all the emotions that are spilling from her about what has happened and how the therapist is responding. As you continue to listen you realize her emotions, her words, her feelings ... are yours.

Could it be that you weren't at fault for your rape like the therapist is telling the girl? Could it be that the anger, the depression, the nightmares ... all the rest ... could it be that you don't need to suffer anymore? That someone can help you stop all this? Could it be that you don't need to be in pain anymore like he's telling the girl?

You feel a strange excitement that you haven't felt since the rape as you imagine the possibility of your own recovery.

I promise you one thing about my book Hours of Torture, Years of Silence: You'll recognize yourself and be able to share certain passages with those you love and want to understand your pain ... even give it to them to read for themselves ... and say "This is me. This is what I'm feeling. This is what happened." And most importantly, "This is what I need from you to help me heal." What a feeling of control that you'll finally be able to share yourself with those you love.

How do I know I can help you? Well, because I'm that girl in the therapy office and this is my story of recovery. I share with you all the feelings, emotions, the tears and finally what happened when I told my story with those I love. How else do I know I can help you? Because I know the pain you're in. Look, there are truths about rape. You and I both know what those truths and one truth is the more you share your story with those who love you and want to help, the less pain you will feel.

Put Yourself In a Position of Healing

I know that recovery and healing is absolutely possible and attainable. Don't let another moment go by without taking time to begin.