Fighting Back: What an Olympic Champion's Story Can Teach Us about Recognizing and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse--and Helping Kids Recover

Synopsis

More Than 75% Of Sexually Victimized Children Know And Trust Their Abuser--and Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Kayla Harrison Was Once Among Them. Kayla, Now An Impassioned Advocate For Children And Teens, Was Abused By Her Judo Coach From Ages 12 To 16. Combining Kayla's Powerful Story With Science-based Information From Two Renowned Therapists, This Unique Book Provides Critical Guidance For Parents And Professionals. Learn How To Spot The Signs That A Child Or Teen Is Being Groomed, Why Kids Stay Silent About Their Trauma, How They Struggle With Self-blame And The Brutal Betrayal Of A Trusted Authority Figure, What Steps Caregivers Should Take When Abuse Is Discovered, And Exactly What Kind Of Help Victims Need To Recover. Kayla Harrison Is A True Fighter--share Her Inspiring Journey.
-- The Sexual Abuse Of Children Impacts The Most Vulnerable Members Of Society. It Is The Stories Of All Of These Victims Who Suffered In Silence That Led Us To Join Together To Write This Book, A Book We Hope Will Serve As A Cautionary Tale For Children And Adults Alike. This Book Would Not Be Possible Without Kayla Harrison's Brave Revelations Of The Sexual Abuse She Suffered At The Hands Of Her Coach; It Is These Firsthand Accounts That Give All Of Us A Chance To See Explicitly How Child Sexual Abuse Can Begin, Persist, And Is Brought To An End. In The Chapters That Follow, We Trace The Course Of Kayla's Victimization And Survival, Weaving Her Story With Our Professional Experience With Hundreds Of Children, Teens, And Families To Reveal What Can Be Done To Prevent And Interrupt This Damaging Cycle-- Prologue -- Introduction -- 1. How Child Sexual Abuse Begins -- 2. Keeping The Secret -- 3. The Tipping Point: Breaking The Silence -- 4. Freedom With Its Own Chains: What To Expect After Disclosure -- 5. Recovery: A Long And Winding Road -- 6. Finding The Way To Professional Help -- 7. From Victim To Survivor -- 8. How We Can Help: Prevention And Education -- Epilogue -- Resources. Kayla Harrison, Cynthia S. Kaplan, Blaise Aguirre. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.