2008 Woodie Awards
Abuse Victims Unite at Annual Conference
Kelly Bromley: Muleskinner
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: News
Music and meditation helped attendees at the UCM Social Work Month conference relax Tuesday, March 25.
The conference, entitled "Survivorship and Resiliency," concentrated on adult survivors of sexual abuse from their childhood.
"It's about survivorship," said Frieda Herrington, social work professor at UCM. "[How] to move on after sexual abuse or assault."
At the conference, there were power points presented with facts and a musical performance. Catherine Hiersteiner of Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) presented a mindfulness method used in her organization. Hiersteiner, a counselor for 25 years, explained the goal of helping adults have a more quality life in the present.
"People who've survived a traumatic past need to relax and have self-care," Hiersteiner said. "Meditation is important for adults."
Meditation Hiersteiner referred to includes exercises taught at MOCSA to "hold first yourself, then a friend, a family member, a neutral person, a difficult person, and finally all other people in your heart in peace."
Between presentations by Hiersteiner, Doug and Telisha Williams performed songs they had written about their life, love and Telisha's childhood abuse.
"I'm a survivor, not a victim," Telisha said.
"My mother was a fragile person, and I was not going to hurt her with this information," Telisha said, answering a question about telling her mother of the abuse. The abuse toward Telisha was exposed when she was 14 years old. A plea was arranged with lawyers and Telisha's mother, who ended up taking the man back.
Telisha began therapy shortly thereafter, but did not find any comfort in sessions with her mother sitting in, and the therapist because she took her mother's side.
"I think you have to start individual work first," Telisha said.
Years later, Telisha became a colleague of her abuse therapist. Telisha continuously saw the cycle of abuse. More often than not, she noted the abuser had been abused themselves.
The conference, entitled "Survivorship and Resiliency," concentrated on adult survivors of sexual abuse from their childhood.
"It's about survivorship," said Frieda Herrington, social work professor at UCM. "[How] to move on after sexual abuse or assault."
At the conference, there were power points presented with facts and a musical performance. Catherine Hiersteiner of Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault (MOCSA) presented a mindfulness method used in her organization. Hiersteiner, a counselor for 25 years, explained the goal of helping adults have a more quality life in the present.
"People who've survived a traumatic past need to relax and have self-care," Hiersteiner said. "Meditation is important for adults."
Meditation Hiersteiner referred to includes exercises taught at MOCSA to "hold first yourself, then a friend, a family member, a neutral person, a difficult person, and finally all other people in your heart in peace."
Between presentations by Hiersteiner, Doug and Telisha Williams performed songs they had written about their life, love and Telisha's childhood abuse.
"I'm a survivor, not a victim," Telisha said.
"My mother was a fragile person, and I was not going to hurt her with this information," Telisha said, answering a question about telling her mother of the abuse. The abuse toward Telisha was exposed when she was 14 years old. A plea was arranged with lawyers and Telisha's mother, who ended up taking the man back.
Telisha began therapy shortly thereafter, but did not find any comfort in sessions with her mother sitting in, and the therapist because she took her mother's side.
"I think you have to start individual work first," Telisha said.
Years later, Telisha became a colleague of her abuse therapist. Telisha continuously saw the cycle of abuse. More often than not, she noted the abuser had been abused themselves.
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