There's a Light Within You That Never Goes Out: True Stories of Actual Survivors of Sexual Abuse And/Or Incest Abuse That Have Overcome the Traumatic Past

By Tiffany L. Werhner MS LMHC PA

Throughout her journey as a Psychological Specialist in Correctional Facilities and in Private Practice, she had some clients that survived severe and horrifying rapes and childhood sexual abuse and incest. Some of the clients that confided in her she could not even believe were still alive. Years of TORTURE, RAPE, and ABUSE. So she started documenting with their permission. She held a private Survivor Group and they have all come so far in their journeys of recovery. One of her clients has a similar story to the Penn State Sandusky case (as a victim) and the pedophile has been arrested. She is a strong believer in standing up for what you believe so you can encourage other victims to receive courage to do the same. Completing this book as well as watching her group evolve as they completed their empowerment assignments has been a journey for her. The actual stories of the victims are included in this book. The guided therapeutic assignments given to the group, as well as their non-edited testimonies, assignments, and disclosures are also included.

One specific clients childhood was nothing but horrifying incestual torture. She thinks that this book, when published, may be her purpose that God made me go through years of suffering...I finally see that God loved me and made me have a special purpose... This book is something that will not only grab your attention, but hopefully encourage the public to take the stigma AWAY from seeking professional mental health help. It is never too late to seek help. There is no shame in seeking to find the light within you that never goes out.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490755618

Tiffany L. Werhner MS LMHC PA

Tiffany L. Werhner, MS, LMHC, PA is the President/CEO of Safety Harbor Behavioral Health and Counseling Center.  In her Private Practice, she serves as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and works diligently in helping various clients find the “light at the end of the tunnel” that they may be searching for.  Tiffany graduated from the University of Florida in 1999 and then received her Master’s degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2003 in Counseling Psychology.  She has over 10 years of experience as a Psychotherapist and is passionate about taking the stigma away from receiving professional help for any issue. She has worked with a variety of clients for the past 15 years, including maximum risk correctional facilities, substance abuse and drug rehabs, intensive and residential psychiatric wards, and many facilities and avenues of helping others receive the help they need toward living a healthier lifestyle.

Book preview

There’s a Light Within You That Never Goes Out

True Stories of Actual Survivors of Sexual Abuse and/or Incest Abuse That Have Overcome the Traumatic Past

Actual data from non-fictional Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Incest. Reports of Torture, Rape, Horror, Shame, Trauma and Abuse beyond imagination. How do the abused learn how to identify themselves as Survivors and heal from the emotional pain that has been carried for years?

Tiffany L. Werhner, MS, LMHC, PA

©

Copyright 2015 Tiffany L. Werhner, MS, LMHC, PA.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

The incidents and stories shared in this book are true reports from actual survivors of sexual abuse and incest. Their names have been changed for privacy and security reasons.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5560-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5562-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-5561-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015902532

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Contents

Chapter 1: Are You A Survivor Of Abuse Or A Victim Of Abuse? How Do You Identify Yourself?

Chapter 2: Why Seek Counseling For Sexual Abuse Trauma That Happened Years Ago ?

Chapter 3: Who Are The Predators And When Are Children Really Safe?

Chapter 4: The Tragic And Horrifying Survival Story Of Raye

Chapter 5: How Did Your Anger Affect Your Loved Ones? The Story Of Tommy

Chapter 6: The Story Of Maya The Survivor Hero

Chapter 7: Living With The Shame Of Pleasure

Chapter 8: Is Your Innocence Lost?

Chapter 9: Facing Honesty. The Darkest Secret: Facing The Truth When It Is So Hard To Admit

Chapter 10: What Is Your Biggest Regret And Why?

Chapter 11: Did The Abuse Make You Stand Out Or Awkward? How Were You Treated By Others? How Did This Affect You?

Chapter 12: Seeking Justice?

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to dedicate this book to my survivor group, which not only shared their precious stories with one another in a healing group setting, but allowed me to document their thoughts and guidance in order to help others recover from shame and guilt associated with abuse. The members of the group will remain anonymous, however, to me, never forgotten. Thank you.

INSIGHT: You MUST break yourself down in order to rebuild yourself up. In the end, you WILL feel empowered and strong. You CAN and WILL be able to gain insight and find emotional peace. It is vital to see clearly light IS at the end of the tunnel. You can gain life changing power to see clearly that there is light at the end of the tunnel and you can gain life-changing power to not only feel strength by facing this pain you have endured, but each and every struggle or obstacle you may encounter in life. Just knowing that you took a chance to face the past and studied ways that you may be healed is a brave move forward and you should begin to feel proud of yourself. Taking that initiative is not an easy thing to do. You have a choice on how you want to live your life. Only you can make this happen. I believe once the effort is made, your life will only improve moving forward.

There is a light within you that never goes out…no matter how long you have felt it was gone.

The flaming candle in the wind fears the wind, but can always be lit again if the wind blows the flame out.

PROLOGUE

I have identified that without really seeing the power of facing the truth and overcoming the shame and guilt of feeling victimized from sexual abuse, a survivor can never really heal from the psychological damage it has done. In addition, I have come to realize how common sexual abuse is and how damaging it can be to a person. I have been working with many different types of abuse survivors: children suffering from years of incest, an attack from stranger, a violent series of rapes, a onetime severe sexual encounter through a trusted friend/family member or role model. My intention is to help you recognize that regardless of the incident, it happened and it shouldn’t have. But most of all, the main focus of this book is guided to help the adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse utilize several effective tools I have encountered that have been breathtaking and empowering according to my clientele. I am attempting to collaborate all the useful