Overcoming Childhood Sexual Abuse — Carol Teitelbaum

Healing Conversations for Men Who Have Sex with Men

Carol Teitelbaum is a Licensed Therapist and has been practicing since 1985. She helps her patients with life issues such as addictions, relationship problems, low self-esteem, self-harm, and men surviving child abuse. She is also the Co-Founder of the Creative Change Conferences, a resource for those experiencing addiction, depression, and who are survivors of child abuse. In this episode, Carol shares her journey and some of the reasons why abuse victims continue the cycle of abuse in their own households.

TAKEAWAYS:

[2:00] A little bit about Carol and her background.

[3:00] Why do abuse victims continue the cycle of abuse when they themselves have been abused?

[6:10] When we look back, we don’t see what the true reality was and how small we were at the age of 4-8 years old. We think we were bigger than we actually were and we always try to protect our parents.

[6:25] Why don’t boys tell people about what’s going on?

[10:55] Abuse and homosexuality. What’s happening there?

[13:40] For a survivor, having someone get to know you is the worst thing in the world.

[15:30] If a child has one, just one adult in their life who believes in them, they can make it.

[18:00] Women are becoming harsher with their children right now as everybody is housed under one roof.

[20:00] What is the ACE study?

[21:00] There is hope! Many of these men are healing.

[23:45] What kind of triggers do survivors experience in adulthood?

[30:15] What is the Creative Change Conference about?

RESOURCES:

Creativechangeconferences.com

Email Carol: [e-mail].

ACE Study

QUOTES:

• “It’s not about sex, it’s about power. Where are they going to get the most power? Abusing someone who is powerless.”
• “It’s a come here, go away effect to their partner. I want you but not too close.”
• “That’s how a survivor feels, if you really know me, you’re going to run away because why would you want me, I’m so damaged. That hurts relationships so badly.”
• “It’s the first time ever minors make up half of the visitors to the National Sexual Assault Hotline.”