Wendy R Mour

Lydia's Story Wendy R Mour

Something terrible happened to Lydia that made her feel sad, scared, and very confused. She was so scared that she decided to keep what happened to her a secret. However, Lydia made the brave decision to tell someone her secret and then her life changed in many ways. In this story, you will read about how Lydia overcame the trauma of sexual abuse to then discover how brave, strong, and amazing she really is! This book is a resource that can be used during the beginning phases of psychotherapy with children who have been a victim of sexual abuse. It is appropriate for children 3-5 years old but can be used at any age based on the child's developmental capacity and clinical judgement of the mental health professional. The helping professional can use Lydia's story to validate the common reactions that a child may experience in the aftermath of sexual abuse. Lydia's story introduces a general framework of the therapeutic process that children may go through while in treatment. Notes to mental health professionals and caregivers are provided at the end of the story. A note for caregivers includes advice on how to help a child feel empowered to work towards strengthening their sense of self and safety during the aftermath of sexual abuse. Additional recommended resources are also provided at the end of the book to learn more about sexual abuse and how to respond.