Child Abuse 

3 year old saw her father kill her mother...
Three year old Julia was referred to For The Child after her mother was shot to death by her father, who then turned the gun on himself. She was found asleep on the bed, in between the bodies of her parents.

This fatal incident was the last event in a chronic pattern of domestic violence, substance abuse, and chaotic living.

The aunt and uncle who adopted Julia wanted her to just forget what she had gone through, but her nightmares and behavior showed that her memories were sad and frightening. Working with a specially trained For The Child therapist, Julia used toys - a doll house, family figures, and police cars-to communicate through play her memories, fears and worries.

Her aunt and uncle knew she was recovering from the trauma when she began normal play with other children and stopped playing scenes of fighting, death, and loss.


Abused.
When I was 7 years old my brother came into my room and sexually abused me. This kept happening until I was 12. I didn’t know what to do or what to think of my brother. Now I am 15 years old and happy with my life because my brother has moved out.

Who can i trust?.. 
When I was 14 I told the cops that my step dad had sexually abused me. The police didn’t do anything about it because they said it was my word against his, and my own mom didn’t believe me. With me still living in the house, I had no one to talk to, so I took my frustration out on my arms and ankles. I was feeling very depressed and didn’t know how to ask for help. I couldn’t talk to my mom or anyone in my family because I didn’t know how they would react.


Scared and Alone...When I was 8 years old I was molested. I was scared and alone, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to. My mom was on drugs, and I began to rebel because I didn’t want to share my feelings. I became sexually active at a very young age. I felt as though it was all my fault that this awful thing happened to me. I kept my mouth closed for nine years after that. I had very low self esteem, and I didn’t care what happened to me. Instead of running away from men, I ran to them. I tried to fill the void in my life where my dad should have been. I slept around with anybody and everybody. It is only by the grace of God that I am here today.