I found the Childhood Sexual Abuse

I found the Childhood Sexual Abuse day to be remarkably affirming.  There is a reassurance to be found that the areas are known and recognised, and held in deep respect.  I sat, almost in wonder;

"Yes. Yes. Yes. I have been here… And here… I know this place…

Yes, that is exactly what it is like… I know that feeling… I have been there…" And now, on reflection, to know that others too have 'been there' and 'know that place' somehow makes that place less lonely, and maybe more accessible. It doesn't make it less painful, but it is easier and less painful somehow to face and feel the pain than to face that blank implacable wall of nothingness; the numb, soul-destroying search for emotional contact. Thank you for bringing that to me today. You spoke on these matters with a sensitivity and an empathy which reached right into me.

There were, of course, areas and topics covered where I do not have personal experience, and what I found in these times was a deep and very real empathy rising out of… something… somewhere... I'm not sure where... But these devastating and crippling emotional barriers suffered by those at the extremes of abuse were brought into that room in a very real way,  and held by you in great respect and with a very moving dignity.

Material of today's nature needs to be handled with enormous care and respect, and given over with great sensitivity and gentleness. Pauline, I want to say that in this respect I think you are truly gifted… Your sensitivity did not once hold the impact of the subject matter back, yet it was given with a beautiful gentleness; your very natural empathy ensuring that what we heard reached deeply inside our very selves to be heard by both ear and heart alike.

Thank you from my heart for your gift, and for using it to bring such depth of learning and sensitivity into a very painful subject area. I very much look forward to the chance our paths crossing again.