News
Anna's Story
Friday 15 May 2009
Sexual abuse can have a devastating effect on how children see themselves and the world. Many, left without any support, try to bottle up their angry, painful emotions. However, this can manifest itself in damaging, self-destructive behaviour.
Anna was a 14-year-old girl who had been sexually abused by her step-father. When the abuse came out, her parents separated and Anna made a statement to the police. However, the case against her step-father did not proceed to court due to ‘insufficient evidence'. Anna was angry and confused, and her risk-taking behaviour became serious - she was staying out at night, drinking, cutting herself and having sex with older men. Eventually she was taken into care as her mother could not cope.
When she came to our centre it was obvious that Anna felt extremely alone. She played out scene after scene of a small plastic hen being covered in a mountain of sand or drowning in water, and there was no-one to save it.
Anna painstakingly created a world for her little hen to live in. She gave it food to eat, a warm cosy bed and even a PlayStation to play with! At the end of each session she gave the box with the hen to her worker for safekeeping.
Anna may have been 14 but emotionally she was much younger. Slowly and gently however her worker encouraged her to explore a series of different issues, including her rejection and anger.
During the course of the work, Anna was able to see that she was not to blame for what had happened to her. She gained an understanding of the triggers which led to her self harming, and with her worker found different strategies for dealing with these. Anna's self esteem and self-worth had been very low, but gradually this too began to improve.
At the end of her final session Anna asked if she could take something with her. She gave the empty box to her worker and left with the little hen tucked firmly in her hand.
Working through the emotions generated by abuse can be a long and painful process. But it is essential if children and young people are to heal the hurt which has been inflicted on them, and go on to have healthy relationships with themselves and others.
More information about our abuse recovery services
Last updated: Friday 15 May 2009
