Below is one success story from the Winona Outpatient Counseling Program. To protect the privacy of the client, we cannot use real names nor can we provide photo or a release form.
Jenny was removed from her home at age two after suffering severe abuse. She was later placed with an aunt and uncle and was sexually abused again by her uncle from the earliest age she can remember, and probably before that, until the time she left the home at age 18. Despite these challenges, she still attempted college, however she became very depressed and was eventually hospitalized. After a short stay in the psychiatric unit, jenny was placed in a residential home. She received intensive therapy for six months, and then was able to move out on her own again.
Jenny began services at FCC’s outpatient counseling clinic at age 30, twelve years after her hospitalization and residential home experience. She was still very depressed and was experiencing flashbacks and nightmares. Contact with her family was minimal, including her siblings. She was unable to work as she suffered severe anxiety and fear of men. She had two young children—a son and a daughter—both of whom she was raising by herself. The father of her children was occasionally in and out of the home, but did not provide any support, financially or otherwise.
Through the therapy jenny received, she was able to gain enough confidence and the ability to handle her anxiety that she could once again work. She was hired at ORC and instantly became a very valued employee due to her intelligence and high functioning level. She continues to work at ORC today, as working in the community still produces too much anxiety for her. She has also improved socially from having one female friend to talk with to having several friends with whom she can talk to on a regular basis. She is even dating again! She established contact with her siblings again, and receives some emotional support from them. She has fewer flashbacks and is able to talk about the abuse with less emotional intensity and she is feeling like her past is impacting her life less than before. She become aware of the methods of survival that she had used—some of which were dissociating and compulsive eating—and has worked very hard to stay present to herself and her feelings as well as addressing directly the compulsive eating and the underlying emotions that lead to overeating.
Jenny has recovered amazingly well considering the severity of abuse she suffered during entire childhood. In fact, she could even be considered a psychological miracle. It is unfortunate that she will continue to have challenges the rest of her life, however she is now equipped to better deal with those challenges and will definitely have a more fulfilling life. She describes being happy on occasion and has found hobbies and activities that provide enjoyment for her.
Jenny could have been institutionalized her entire life as a result of the abuse she suffered; however, due to her strength and dedication to recovery she has managed to live in the community and become productive. Amazingly, she even uses her experience to help others. She has become an accomplished seamstress, creating teddy bears out of fabric from the clothing of those who have passed away. These beautiful bears provide comfort to grieving family members. Jenny is now creating a quilt that expresses her abuse experiences and she hopes to display this to help other abuse survivors.