Views of Local Therapists "Through the Eyes of a Therapist" by Yoheved Artzi M.S. LMFT 01 Feb. 2007 One hot humid southern day, Mary, a thirteen year old girl with beautiful, but sad brown eyes and straight shoulder length blond hair walked into my clinic with a shy forced smile. She sat down gently on the cold black leather chair. As she stared at an empty wall, without a single word spoken, I begin to see tears rolling down her checks, disappearing into her lap. Mary felt as though she had had a very normal life, although her parents had argued alot, until last summer when they were separated, after her mom filed for a divorce, and her dad took a job up north. A few months later her mom found herself a male companion on the internet, and it wasn't long until he moved into their house. At first the three of them had lots of fun doing exciting things together. Her mom's boyfriend gave Mary special attention. He would tickle her, sometimes he would affectionately rub her back and stroke her hair while she was doing her homework, and he even bought her expensive gifts as though he were her dad. Then at the end of May on a Saturday evening, while her mother was at work, Mary and her mom's boyfriend were watching a video in her mom's bed like the three of them had done many times before, but this was different. He began touching Mary's body in ways that no one should ever touch a child. Mary was too scared to tell her mom. What if her mom didn't believe her? What if her mom cared more about him, and blamed it on her? In the following days Mary felt so confused and could not concentrate, and didn't have a clue of what to do. After Mary made her best friend promise not to tell a sole, she then told her "the secret". Mary's best friend knew then that she couldn't keep that promise, so she told the teacher. You see, Mary's friend is a smart friend, because secrets, or promises like these aren't meant to be kept. Mary was referred to my office within a few days after the sexual abuse was discovered. She has a very good chance of recovery due to the immediate assistance. At the beginning it was extremely difficult for Mary to share details. But gradually, through art therapy, drawing, writings, and EMDR, (desensitization and reprocessing traumatic incidence) Mary felt more at ease, and began to trust me. It was then, that she described the tormenting horror and the struggles of her overwhelming distress. These were accomplishments that proved to be constructive stages of healing for Mary. In my clinical work, I see both children and adults. Alot of these adults have managed to bury "the big secret" of childhood abuse for many years, without having ever received therapeutic help. I see the effects caused by the trauma in their life. Some individuals develop symptoms of PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, depression, difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, intrusive thoughts, chronic anger and others suffer from DID, dislocation disorder and Chronic PTSD. Mental anguish affects the well-being of the body as a whole that can manifest itself, through emotional, and physical problems. Psychological therapy can be very helpful, the sooner the intervention the better the chance of recovery. Yoheved Arzi, M.S., LMFT Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (GA Lic. # OOO970) Certified EMDR Clinician (Trauma Specialist) 312 E. Monroe St. / Thomasville / GA / 31792 Office (229) 551-0663