present
“Winning the
battle of The Abused Brain”
A two-day experiential workshop exploring the science
and true nature of childhood clergy abuse
For health-care professionals, lawyers, Survivors, affected others
and everyone who cares!
Sue Cox Lic.Ac. M.B.Ac.C
Louise Rooney MBACP AIP
Exploring the
true nature of Survivors of
childhood clergy
abuse
Imagine you are faced with the care of a being from
an entirely different species, an alien that has never been seen before, and
therefore is extremely precious.
Imagine that you
are charged with the task of making it thrive and blossom in optimum health and
well-being.
The answer would
not be to throw just anything at it to see if it works! And then try something else when that
fails, and then something else, on and on; although this random tendency is
what we come across often when people are trying to find the best way to help
survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
It’s like throwing mud at a wall to see how much of it will stick.
We believe,
however, that the correct thing to do would be to look very closely at the
nature of that creature. To fully understand, and determine, what it actually
needs.
We would examine
it’s genetic makeup - is it vegetarian? Is it nocturnal? Is it happier in a
group, or does it need solitude? Will it die if exposed to water? Will it bite?
Is it timid? Does it need warmth or cold? What kind of habitat does it prefer?
What exactly does
it require in order to survive and thrive?
As people who
want to help, there is a tendency to “throw” what we consider “the best thing”
at something, albeit out of kindness.
Maybe we will sit
it in the sunshine, and give it the best fillet steak! Surely that will be the
best thing it could have?
Great, unless the
creature happens to be a cold blooded, nocturnal vegetarian that is allergic to
UV rays!
You
might feel better, but the creature will suffer!
Not much use to
feel benevolent while doing the wrong thing. There are many tragedies brought
about by people doing the wrong thing, for what they perceive to be the right
reasons. It is very easy to kill
someone with kindness.
When faced with
recovery from childhood clergy sexual abuse we need to first of all look at the
very nature of that Survivor; for example, you may know what a lion looks like,
but do you REALLY know it’s true nature?
It is no use assuming that what you may feel is the “best” for that
person until you have a clear picture of the nature of abuse.
In our two-day workshops we examine the true nature
of the survivor, how they have been damaged and more importantly, what
interventions can really help.
Why timing is
crucial, why some interventions are inappropriate unless they are timed
correctly, and why some are great!
We will look
specifically at the Survivors brain, the target organ of trauma; how it is
affected and what we can do about it.
We will examine
the research that highlights the damage to the immune and metabolic systems of
the abuse survivor, and how it can be possible to achieve optimum health.
We will share
simple and inexpensive tips and tools to empower the Survivor, even when they
are alone.
Survivors are not
clones; they are unique and irreplaceable individuals, and the way each one is
dealing with their own trauma is determined by many factors, and should be
their own choice.
What we have done
is to create a programme for optimum strength, regardless of the direction a
person’s recovery is taking.
They need, and
deserve, their best shot at happiness, to be as well as possible to begin and
sustain their fight.
Like a
prize-fighter needs a special regime in order to be at his peak! He will need
the right diet, the right exercise the right mindset for more power, more speed, more endurance.
If survivors are
overwhelmed, they are liable to lose their determination. Fear will often drive
a fighter to make painful mistakes. It has been common to see Survivors
severely weakened and consequently re-abused, either because they are too hurt,
ill informed, dismissed, badly advised, or are not able to look after
themselves as well as they might.
Survivors of
clergy abuse should consider themselves as a very precious member of an
endangered species, and value their recovery above all else.
It is pretty near
impossible to win a fight as big as this one if you show up for it at less than
your very best.
The worst part of
fighting is not the fight itself, it’s not even the arduous preparation - it is
the getting destroyed when you have fought so hard to win!
Our two-day workshop is designed to empower that
Survivor – Prize-fighter!
For therapeutic
professionals, who need to see how best to help this client group.
For lawyers who
need to understand the severity of the task and to be better able to incorporate
the biology of trauma into their clients’ cases.
For families and
friends who are desperately trying to make sense of the situation.
For heroic
Survivors themselves, who need to be equipped with as much armour and weaponry
as they can muster.
DAY ONE
Using a mixture
of lecture and film
*Starting with an
overview of the Worldview of childhood clergy abuse. The concept of
Institutional abuse, the nature of the abuser, fear based enabling and
facilitation of the abuser and assassination of the spirit.
*We will learn
about the structure and working of the Brain - the most complex and powerful
structure in the Universe!
This is the
target organ of abuse.
*We will take a
fresh and exciting look at the wonders of that brain and show what can go
wrong.
*We will explore
conditions associated with childhood sexual abuse: current understanding of
PTSD, depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, addictions, self-harming, etc.
*What causes
flashbacks, nightmares, and how triggers work.
*We will
highlight how childhood abuse causes physical changes within the brain, and how
the damage manifests; the biological as well as the psychological damage.
*We will look at
the current and damning evidence to suggest how the immune and metabolic
systems are also damaged.
*We will examine
the current understanding (and misunderstandings) about the manifestations of
childhood abuse. How what has always been referred to as “psychological damage”
has its roots, in fact, in permanent physical changes.
*We will show
how, that damage can be passed on to the next generation, and the next.
DAY TWO
OK! What about the GOOD news!
Connections and empowerment!
We believe that
the individual survivor should be the primary focus. There is no doubt that
being active in the global fight, and contributing to the elimination of child
clergy abuse, connecting with, and helping others, can be, for some,
beneficial.
However, if
Survivors are in poor shape themselves they will not be able to sustain that
impetus. Personal recovery has to be the starting point, without that we can
have only a limited impact.
With a greater
understanding, we can cement the bridge between how someone feels, to the
biological reason for those emotions. It would be pointless knowing the science,
and not using it!
* With the emphasis
on optimum brain health and survivor empowerment, we will explore some powerful
interventions.
* We are a
multi-disciplinary team, and drawing on our understanding of neuroscience,
psychotherapy, Western and Chinese medicine, we have created a dynamic, multi-layered programme to nurture each Survivor
in an holistic way, regardless of where they happen to be on their own journey with a focus on empowerment.
* We will show
which therapies are great and why some are not so great! Why timing is crucial!
Some therapies are useful only when used at the correct time.
*We will explore
some of the difficulties a Survivor’s recovery might encounter, and offer some
very simple and effective tools, and tricks to empower that Survivor.
*We will include
self-help tools, specific diet and nutrition, exercises, and meditations,
Everything a Survivor - Prize Fighter will need to
go from being a victim to Victor!
Armed with a more
thorough and scientific understanding of the severity of abuse, and the true
nature of the abused person, therapists, health-care professionals, lawyers, families and survivors alike,
will be better able to care for that precious member of “ an endangered
species” and allow them regain their power, to soar above their abusers!
FOR DETAILS ABOUT FORTHCOMING WORKSHOPS ACROSS
EUROPE AND THE USA AND HOW TO BOOK A PLACE
CALL
+ 44 1926 311912
+44 781 380 8026
OR EMAIL