Woman and Child First

The Everpresent John Laws on Child Sexual Assault

John Laws needs to retire. The background to this story can be neatly summarized by the Herald Sun's article here.  My viewpoint?

I am a psychologist who works with adult survivors of child sexual abuse. Comments such as those made by John Laws last week on 2SM are infinitely harmful to the healing process. These sensationalist reactions only confirm the inaccurate cognitions made by the child as s/he grows up. "It's all my fault" is the most common faulty belief that needs to be overcome. [NB.This can take years.] Apart from being cruel and insensitive, this form of (further) abuse is entirely frustrating to my work and to all the others in my profession who are trying to help people move on.

I've just submitted this to GetUp! in support of their campaign demanding an apology from John Laws himself, and then a committment from radio 2SM to educating their presenters in dealing with the subject of child sexual abuse.

Happy Woolloomooloo life, John.

Photo from Herald Sun

 

Teenage Depression

My work by it's very nature involves receiving secrets.  It's sacred information from the hidden spaces within my clients. The teenagers I see are beautiful, young and free. But those qualities are the last things that they themselves see if they are battling depression and anxiety. As they slowly approach me, with their intelligent caution they begin to share secrets. At times, I find  some of those secrets heartbreaking.  They speak of self hatred and isolation. Behind the shy smiles, there are beliefs of being ugly, dumb. There's something wrong with me.

Such is the truly monstrous nature of depression and anxiety. The turnaround is what we work towards. Sometimes it involves medication. But no amount of pharmaceutical support will ever be as good as the power of genuine self regard that is continuously nurtured. Refusal to believe any of these Black Dog* thoughts, a stubbornness, a determination not to be defined by this condition...These are the things to be inspired.

The great blessing for the young is that they are young. With their whole lives ahead of them, they can learn to take this Black Dog, tame it and keep it in it's rightful kennel. It can actually be a stunning opportunity - the meeting of depression and/or anxiety can be the whole reason for the growing of strength and true self esteem that can be taken into adulthood. 

I am always greatly moved and honoured when I am allowed into these secret places, these shadowy spaces. Once that door is opened I can sit down with my teenage pal and we can nut out the best ways of being kind and compassionate to the self first. Then we get to work out how  he or she can start to have some fun again and to grow who they are, in all their rebellious and wonderful youth.

*Winston Churchill's Black Dog was the name he gave his depressive periods.