Resources
The Recovery Process
David Powlison MDiv, PhD September 2009
The damage you suffered may have been done in one terrible moment or over time. But the healing and the restoration will unfold at your pace, at a human pace. It unfolds as part of your story, and it unfolds over time.
As a vulnerable child, instead of being protected, helped, and comforted, you were physically, emotionally, and/or sexually abused. Learn how to express your experience to God by composing your own personal liturgy. Pouring out your heart to God will begin the healing process and lead to the small growing steps of faith and restoration.
Can Medicine Help ?
Dionne Harrison MD May 2012
When scary things happen to children, sometimes they develop symptoms such as problems falling and staying asleep, nightmares, constant worry about not being safe or they may become profoundly sad in a way that causes them to not function well. Children can also have vivid memories of an abuse experience and feel as if it were occuring, even though the event has passed. This is explained as how the brain and our body overlearns the physical sensations and emotions during a very terrifying event. Because such intense fear was experienced, the child's nervous system and brain have difficulty forgetting this event.
Counseling, time and medication in conjunction with a family's love and prayers can help restore a sense of peace to the child's body and emotions. Many parents are understandably skeptical about giving their child medication. However, please keep in mind how an adult would fare if deprived of sleep and was bombarded with incessant thoughts about being hurt. For children who may lack the ability to fully understand what is happening because of their developmental stage, the relief and comfort from anxiety and tiredness through medications which can have significant benefits to aid the healing process and will be only temporary in most cases.
The Freedom of Forgiveness
posted June 2013
by Ruth Server http://bible.org/article/freedom-forgiveness
Letting go of anger and bitterness opens the door to God's healing.
Object Lessons on Forgiveness
Other Resource Links
Homosexuality and Child Abuse
Article from The Family Research Council
http://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF08L46.pdf
Focus on the Family: Talking to Your Kids About Sexual Abuse
by Jon Holsten
Link from Christianity Today-articles, quizzes, executive reports on sexual abuse and prevention in the church
http://www.reducingtherisk.com/articles/
Top 9 Ways Christian Teen Girls Can Prevent Rape
by Kelli Mahoney
http://christianteens.about.com/od/advice/tp/RapePrevention.htm
How To Help Minors Who are Being Abused
by Marnee Ferree
http://enrichmentjournal.ag.org/200903/200903_106_Innocence.cfm
Getting Help for an Abused Child: Find a local Child Advocacy Center
Child Advocacy Centers connect law enforcement, criminal justice, child protective service, medical and mental health workers onto one coordinated team.
World Vision-Child Sexual Exploitation
http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/about/press-child-sexual-exploitation
Sexual Abuse Prevention Education
& Steps to Healing
Empower your family. Healing is Possible. Learn the wisdom God has for families in preventing and healing sexual abuse.
A Letter from Tamar is a beautifully illustrated depiction of II Samuel 11 with a hopeful message to empower children and families. This is a thoughtfully designed resource accompanied by a discussion guide that summarizes important lessons to reinforce. Families and children will be inspired by the picture book imagery and practical prevention strategies. Counselors who specialize in work with children will welcome this narrative straight from God's word with open arms--as there is no such resource to-date in current literature.
