I asked to review the book I Believe You: How to Heal From Child Sexual Abuse after connecting with Brooke Woon, Psychologist, Author, and Founder of Inspired Book Publishing on LinkedIn.

This book is written for adult survivors of child sexual abuse. It estimates that one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused. In writing this book, Woon dug deep into her own childhood experiences as a victim. As a psychologist with a post-graduate degree in counselling and psychology with over twenty years of experience, Woon wanted to provide a resource which contained:

• Definitions of child sexual abuse – including cycle of child sexual abuse and why it keeps happening within families and communities
• Information on grooming – How perpetrators infiltrate themselves into the lives, families, and communities of their victims
• Challenges for survivors – How it can affect our self-esteem, body image, sexuality, mood, relationships, sleep, and our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
• Strategies for healing and happiness

As a sexologist who has worked with clients who were sexually abused, I was able to relate with the content with what survivors would have experienced. I learned things I didn’t know before, such as the personality characteristics and inner workings of a paedophile with them possibly having misplaced anger, desire to humiliate others, and lack of emotional maturity.

Woon described the four stages of grooming, as well as addressed the depth of pain from depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, panic attacks, sleep issues, and how to deal with each. She also talked about the other effects of sexual abuse relating to one’s body, before devoting rest of the book on practical yet profound healing practices.

Woon weaved affirmations throughout her book to help survivors to focus on their thoughts on healing. Affirmations are positive statements that support us in changing the way our conscious and subconscious mind works. I can imagine the contents being triggering, and being a survivor herself, she was able to deal with this subject sensitively.

I Believe You aims to give support and encouragement as healing from the past begins to take place, so that one can become empowered to create the fulfilling, happy life they have always wanted. I found the book easy-to-read with lots of bullet points to clearly explain each section, and would recommend it.

About the Author

Brooke Woon has spent over 20 years helping child and adult victims of child sexual abuse. She has also worked with paedophiles. Brooke, also a victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of two different perpetrators, knows first-hand the devastating affect this abuse can have on us, long after the abuse is over. Her own inspiring journey is shared throughout the book.

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About the Reviewer

Dr. Martha Tara Lee is Founder and Clinical Sexologist of Eros Coaching. She is a certified sexologist with a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. She provides sexuality and relationship coaching for individuals and couples, conducts sexual education workshops and speaks at public events. She is the author of the books Love, Sex and Everything In-Between, and Orgasmic Yoga. She is also the host of the weekly radio show Eros Evolution on OMTimes Radio. For more, visit www.ErosCoaching.com or email info@eroscoaching.com.