When the subject of abuse comes up, do you immediately think male or female?
Healing for ALL Survivors
Ever since I started speaking out about child sexual abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault, I’ve heard from male survivors right in line with the females.
That goes for perpetrators too. Males are not the only ones who harm adults and children. Women are perpetrators too, in sexual abuse and domestic violence. They can be very sick and twisted too!
Victims of abuse are just that – victims. Luckily, the ones I hear from are the victims who become survivors and then move from surviving to thriving.
Abuse is not a “Women’s Issue” it’s a People Problem!
(that’s a tweet-able – Click to Tweet)
Question:
Your work on behalf of abused women is amazing, and you are an incredible spirit. Are there any books out there, or other speakers, who deal with the issues faced by men who have been abused? Who would you recommend for a man to read or listen to, if they themselves were abused when they were young?
Answer:
Great question!
For male survivor resources check out MaleSurvivor.org - committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Memberships are available for both survivors and all who support them.
My brother is a survivor. He is brilliant and kind. Listen to what he says about not blaming yourself:
Resources for Male Survivors:
Check out Big Voice Pictures and their documentary Boys to Men Healing. They also have a great list of resources on their site.
There are also male survivors contributors on Survivor Manual and a book store will all kinds of resources.
SNAP is a great community for survivors abused by priests, no matter what your gender.
A Workbook for Male Survivors of Abuse
In honor of all the male survivors I’ve personally met and after seeing your question come up time and time again, I addressed my own materials too.
The Healing Workbook is the most popular content I’ve created. Yay! That means people are using it and healing! Wahoo!
But the workbook follows a female survivor, so I recently hired the artist (James Murray) to create the whole series of images used in the Healing Workbook geared towards male survivors!
It doesn’t matter what gender you are, trauma is still like being pierced with a sword (metaphorically) and the healing steps remain the same.
Thank you for asking about male survivors. I have met so many fellow warriors and have a lot of respect and admiration for the men who do come forward to heal and help others.
Thank you.
PS: the new healing workbook honoring male survivors is coming soon!
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should be required reading in all high schools and colleges. It should be required reading for all social workers and law enforcement officers. I am so very proud of Angela Shelton and to share in the healing she brings to us all.
