Reclaiming Wholeness in the Wake of Betrayal

 

There are wounds so deep they seem to fracture time itself—splintering childhood from adulthood, memory from meaning, and trust from safety. Incest is one of those wounds. It is not just a violation of the body, but of the sacred trust that binds families. And yet, healing is possible. Not linear, not easy—but possible.

🧠 The Psychology of Healing

Survivors of incest often carry complex trauma, shaped by betrayal, secrecy, and shame. According to trauma expert Christine Courtois, healing requires a stage-oriented approach:

• Safety and Stabilization: Before revisiting trauma, survivors must build emotional regulation skills and a sense of safety in relationships.
• Processing the Trauma: This may involve talk therapy, EMDR, expressive arts, or somatic approaches to gently access and reframe traumatic memories.
• Reconnection and Integration: Survivors begin to reclaim their identity, build healthy relationships, and redefine their sense of self beyond the abuse.

Jennifer Freyd’s betrayal trauma theory adds another layer: when the abuser is a caregiver, the mind may suppress or distort memories to preserve attachment. Healing, then, is not just remembering—it’s reclaiming the right to feel, to know, and to be.

💬 A Survivor’s Voice

In Healing from Incest, Geri Henderson offers a rare dual perspective: her own reflections as a survivor, and her therapist Seanne Emerton’s insights woven throughout. Their conversations reveal:

• The power of naming the abuse without shame
• The importance of therapeutic alliance and emotional safety
• The slow, sacred work of rebuilding a sense of self

One metaphor from the book lingers: kintsukuroi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. The cracks are not hidden; they are honored. The piece becomes more beautiful for having been broken.

🌱 Toward Wholeness

Healing from incest is not about forgetting. It’s about transforming pain into wisdom, shame into dignity, and silence into voice. Survivors are not defined by what was done to them—they are defined by their courage to heal.

If you are walking this path, know this: you are not alone. There is gold in your story. And there is strength in your becoming.

This post was inspired by Healing from Incest by Geri Henderson and Seanne Emerton. 

Book description:

In speaking about Healing from Incest, Susan J. Lewis, Ph.D., J.D., writes: "Brave, profound, touching, healing. This well-written, honest book takes the reader inside the complexities of the therapeutic healing process from the patient and therapist's unique perspective. It is the story of hard work, hope, commitment and recovery!" Healing from Incest tells the journey of a victim-turned-survivor, working with her therapist to find healing. Readers are pulled into the therapeutic process as Henderson relates her conversations and feelings as a victim of child abuse and Emerton interprets those feelings and describes interventions. For those who recognize this as their own story, this frank and genuine narrative will be reassuring in its descriptions of one woman's journey toward hope and healing. About the front cover: kintsukuroi(n.) (v. phr.) "to repair with gold"; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken.

Keywords:

Healing from incest; Surviving childhood sexual abuse; Child abuse recovery; Incest survivor story; Therapeutic healing from trauma; Sexual abuse therapy journey; Kintsukuroi healing metaphor; Overcoming childhood trauma; Child abuse memoir; Sexual abuse survivor; Trauma recovery process; Therapy for sexual abuse victims; Healing through therapy; Hope after abuse; Emotional healing and resilience; Abuse survival and empowerment; Mental health and trauma recovery; Inner strength after abuse; How to heal from childhood sexual abuse; Personal stories of incest survival and healing; Therapeutic approaches to trauma recovery; Finding hope after incest and child abuse; The journey from victim to survivor; The role of therapy in healing from sexual abuse; Self-help: Abuse; Memoir: Trauma & Recovery; Psychology: Mental Health; Women’s Studies / Gender Studies

Amazon customers say:

Customers find this book to be a unique addition to the literature on healing from incest, appreciating its honest approach. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the author's eloquent style.

Finalist, Book of the Year Award

Book Excellence Award

For more posts about Geri and Seanne and their book, click HERE.

For more posts about incest, click HERE.

 

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