Three Phases of Healing from Sexual Harm - Folktown's Joellen Kenyon reflects on Judith Herman’s groundbreaking text on Trauma recovery
In my desire to work with those who have suffered from trauma and sexual harm I have found that Judith Herman, in her book: Trauma and Recovery, speaks to three phases of healing with a clarity that has been helpful as I work with my clients. The three phases she mentions are helpful in promoting healing after small or great harm has occurred. The phases Herman mentions are establishing safety, reconnecting to yourself and putting words to your own narrative, and finding a survivor mission.
The first phase of healing may include finding a therapist that you feel safe with and yet who challenges you to grow and heal. It is also important in this initial step toward healing to establish a safe place to live in order to have a strong foundation to risk and heal. Another part of this phase of healing is to establish relationships with supportive friends and family. Healing will be deeper if the survivor can begin to build a support system which will include a therapist that can begin to look at their relationship with others and themselves through the therapeutic relationship.
The next phase of healing, according to Judith Herman brings grieving, pain and joy Here creativity and imagination are awakened. Many clients begin to journal and find that they are able to put words to the trauma they suffered. Amongst the ashes of sorrow and pain, some gems of joy are found. Clients begin telling their story as if they were a third person reporting and are surprised to find that their emotions are awakened. Trauma victims and veterans are encouraged to draw pictures, paint, write poems and take pictures to express what they had felt in the past and are feeling now. These creative expressions seem to stimulate hope and courage to step forward into healing and new life experiences. Creating brings not only healing and relief but meaning and purpose to life.
As the trauma survivors healing journey continues what often springs forth is a new confidence. The victim has become active in telling their story appropriately feeling the pain, grief, anger and deep sorrow that may have been bottled up for years. As survivors tell their story they also sought out ways to help others. A new confidence and outlook on life encourages the survivor to find a mission. The survivor’s mission can be anything from writing their memoir’s, speaking out and championing victim’s rights, to participating in a self-defense class to fight back against the fear they feel.
It is important to note that in mentioning these phases of healing there will be quite a bit of movement back and forth between the different phases’. I am a strong believer that healing doesn’t always take place in a neat and tidy way nor, can you really put a time limit on it. People heal at different paces and may falter and then pick up again. We all heal and change differently. Life’s unpredictables will interrupt and also enhance the healing process.
I look forward to meeting and walking alongside you in your healing
-Joellen
Joellen Kenyon LMHCA is a therapist at
Folktown Counselling located in historic Ballard. When she is not at work she
enjoys creative writing, reading and spending time with her family including
her cattle dog Lila. She also enjoys soccer watching, playing and reffing it.
