Victims Given a Voice to Heal at Last

By Kate Hagan
The Age
November 14, 2012

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/victims-given-a-voice-to-heal-at-last-20121113-29ai5.html?rand=1352805869998

SPEAKING publicly about their experience of childhood sexual abuse is likely to provide healing for many victims, experts say.

Clinical and forensic psychologist Lyn Shumack said the royal commission could provide validation for victims who felt strong enough to tell their stories.

''Feeling violated makes you feel shameful, and it's shame that allows [abusers] to get away with this sort of behaviour because [victims] keep quiet. So it's a freeing thing to be able to talk about it,'' she said.

Monash University emeritus professor of forensic psychiatry Paul Mullen said giving evidence would be a mostly positive experience for victims motivated by a desire to stop others from suffering abuse in future.

''For some people a royal commission might rekindle some memories, but in a context one hopes will be reassuring,'' he said.

''For most victims putting abuse behind them is what the whole process is about, and that is by far the best thing. The tragedy is when people can't and it comes to dominate their lives and becomes the single most important thing that ever happened to them.''

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists chair of psychotherapy Jennifer Randles said the royal commission would also have an impact on victims who did not give evidence, and some who had avoided confronting their past might be motivated to seek therapy.

She said much of the damage to victims of child sex abuse came from confusion and shame they felt afterwards, rather than the sexual act itself. ''The victim is often a lonely boy … all he's seeking is warmth and love from someone he admires, and what tends to happen afterwards is the abuser treats the victim in a very cold way,'' she said. ''This is very damaging and the boy is likely to feel very confused. They may want to ask somebody about it, but they can't because it's a secret.

''The priest goes back to being … above reproach, in an elevated position, and everything tells the child this didn't happen and if the child thinks it did he must be bad or mad.

''That is why this royal commission is so incredibly important. It represents somebody who has been given authority saying, 'I want to listen to your story and this is bad and it shouldn't have happened'.''

Dr Randles said the process would be distressing for some victims, who would need support.