Kayla Harrison - Fighting Back: What an Olympic Champions Story Can Teach Us about Recognizing and Preventing Child Sexual Abuse--and Helping Kids Recover

A gift of inestimable value for parents and others concerned about the scourge of childhood sexual abuse. If only this book had been available when my children were young, I might have recognized the causes of my daughters sufferingand been able to stop the abuse. It reveals the warning signs of a child or teen being lured or abused, how to talk to children about their safety in a nonjudgmental way, and how to get help. Kayla courageously shares how a survivor thinks about her experience and can heal from it.

Muriel T., Toronto, Canada

A much-needed look into a very complex topic that desperately needs to be addressed. As someone who personally experienced abuse, I know the isolation and shame it can bring. Reading Kaylas personal account, I had the feeling of being understood. My symptoms were a normal response to an abnormal situation. Although recovery is a long process, Kayla shows us that it is indeed possible. This book has the power to restore hope and save lives.

Cassandra P., Plymouth, Massachusetts

One of those rare books that will both capture your heart and feed your mind. The story of Kaylas personal struggle is painful and emotionally powerful. The timing of this book is perfectour society needs to see these issues with the clarity and courage of Kayla Harrison and address them with the wisdom of Drs. Aguirre and Kaplan.

Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD, Senior Fellow, The ChildTrauma Academy

A comprehensive resource for anyone faced with the devastating impact of childhood sexual abuse, including survivors, their families, and professionals. Kayla Harrisons lived experience is interwoven with information and advice from two treatment experts in this compelling book.

Melanie Harned, PhD, ABPP, Research Director, Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics, University of Washington

With the same strength and determination that she surely needed to win an Olympic gold medal, Kayla courageously takes us through her personal story of survival. To effectively fight this problem and help the victims, we have to be able to understand their perspective and the tremendous challenges they faceKayla, with candor, courage, and clarity, gives us that perspective. Drs. Kaplan and Aguirre add their own expertise from decades of treating victims. As a former prosecutor, I feel this book provides insight that would be of tremendous benefit to anyone whose role it is to fight or to prevent the victimization of children.

Elliot Felig, JD, MBA, former prosecutor, Manhattan District Attorneys Office

THE GUILFORD PRESS
New York London

Epub Edition ISBN: 9781462535897; Kindle Edition ISBN: 9781462535903

Copyright 2018 The Guilford Press

A Division of Guilford Publications, Inc.

370 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1200, New York, NY 10001

www.guilford.com

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Last digit is print number: 987654321

The information in this volume is not intended as a substitute for consultation with healthcare professionals. Each individuals health concerns should be evaluated by a qualified professional.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Harrison, Kayla, author. | Kaplan, Cynthia S. (Cynthia Sue) author. | Aguirre, Blaise A., author.

Title: Fighting back : what an Olympic champions story can teach us about recognizing and preventing child sexual abuseand helping kids recover / Kayla Harrison, Cynthia S. Kaplan, Blaise Aguirre.

Description: New York : The Guilford Press, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017050490| ISBN 9781462532971 (paperback) | ISBN 9781462535699 (hardcover)

Subjects: LCSH: Child sexual abuse. | Abused childrenServices for. | BISAC: FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Abuse / Child Abuse. | BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs. | PSYCHOLOGY / Psychotherapy / Child & Adolescent. | MEDICAL / Psychiatry / Child & Adolescent. | EDUCATION / Counseling / Crisis Management.

Classification: LCC HV6570 .H365 2018 | DDC 362.76dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017050490

History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, But if faced with courage, need not be lived again.

M AYA A NGELOU

To protect privacy, in many cases names of people in Kaylas story have been changed.

We alternate use of masculine and feminine pronouns, rather than using he or she, for clarity and brevity.

Words cannot express our gratitude to The Guilford Press for believing in this project when it was little more than a good idea and several draft chapters. Specifically, our thanks go to Kitty Moore, our senior editor at Guilford, who took the time to patiently talk through all aspects of this undertaking and develop a vision for how best to convey Kaylas story and message. And then there is Chris Benton, our developmental editor, without whose professional advice, assistance, editing magic, and focus this book might well have stalled short of completion and certainly would not have been as well written and true to our mission. It is hard to capture the synergy that both Kitty and Chris contributed to this project, never veering from their commitment to our collective objective of reaching as large an audience as possible. Our goal is to raise awareness of child sexual abuse and the devastating toll it takes on its victims and to add our voices to those of others working toward the goal of preventing even one additional child from being hurt in this manner. Kitty and Chris were our champions and cheerleaders, and treated both the authors and the topic with the utmost respect and dignity. Thanks always.

And to the Pedros, who epitomize everything that coaches should be. They are true heroes, models of how power and influence can be used for good and the ways in which all adults can, and should, make a positive difference in the lives of the children they care for.

Of course we could not have done this without our familiesour spouses and partners, who allowed us the time and space to work relentlessly when needed; Kaylas mom, who made brave contributions to the manuscript; and our collective children, who inspire us to make sure that society continues to make the protection of children the most sacred priority. And finally, we thank McLean Hospital, a relentless leader in the research and treatment of trauma, which provided us with the knowledge and experience necessary to help make this book a reality.

November 2011

I cant sleep. I have been in Japan for 2 weeks, and every day I mentally mark another X on the calendar. Its November 2011, and I am 7 months away from competing in the Summer Olympics in Londona lifelong dream. For the most part, I cant sleep because I am anxious and cant wait to go home, but also because I am waiting for the bomb to drop, knowing that my secrets are about to be revealed to the world. Somewhere in the U.S., newspapers are being printed. Words are being typed. Not just any words. My words, my story, and I am scared to death.