Anyone who's ever endured a bad kiss, embarrassing groping session, or unsatisfying sex with the wrong guy or gal can feel as though they've experienced a sexual trauma. But, of course, these things are a proverbial cake walk compared with what millions of people the world over have endured due to rape or incest.
Two news items have been bringing these issues to light of late: the visit of the Pope to the U.S. and the ensuing reminders of rampant sexual impropriety of Catholic priests, and the recent raid of the Texas-based polygamous sect, the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, believed to have widespread practices of forced marriage and sexual activity with minors.
Most of us would like to think that sexual assault of any kind is an unfortunate, uncommon occurrence that happens to "other people"... And we'd never believe that we likely know anyone who’s been the "perpetrator" of such acts. But, sadly, according to expert Staci Haines, author of the book, "Healing Sex: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Sexual Trauma," the statistics of people who have survived sexual abuse are staggering, and all of us know those on both sides of the trauma: One in three girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by their eighteenth birthday, millions of them by a member of their own family. These numbers reflect the entire spectrum of society, including all cultures, ethnicities, and classes; in fact, there isn't a single group who sexually abuses while others do not. To add to the pain, most sexually abused children know their perpetrator (60 – 80%).
Of course, the fall-out of such traumatic events echoes down the generations, causing all kinds of emotional and sexual dysfunction, and all sorts of relationship problems (not to mention, the cycle of violence commonly continues...). So join us this week as we bring back Dr. Nancy Irwin, doctor of psychology, hypnotherapy, and a childhood sexual abuse survivor herself. Dr. Irwin is dedicated to treating victims of child sexual abuse as well as abusers. She’ll share with us all the ways sexual abuse and trauma can be addressed, how victims can recover their sexual pleasure and become open to real intimacy, how partners of victims can support the healing of their lover without sacrificing themselves, and how to handle the split that often occurs in families in which abuse has happened. The good news is that we live in a time in which topics like these are no longer so "taboo" (thank you, Oprah!) and help is readily available.
Dr. Irwin is a member of the California Psychological Association, the American Academy for Experts in Traumatic Stress, and the California Coalition on Sexual Offending.
So shut off the news, and tune in, call in, and be Enlightened.
LIVE Air Date: Sunday, May 4th
Air Time: 11 AM Pacific Time.
Call In #: 1-888-495-2762
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