Corbett Trauma Center is specifically designed to provide counseling to children, adults, and families after experiencing trauma or abuse of any kind. The center often sees children who have experienced sexual abuse or molestation at the hands of a relative. This is the story of Susan's journey.  

When 12-year- old Susan first arrived at Corbett Trauma Center, the effects of the sexual abuse that she had been enduring for months by her uncle were clearly visible. At school, she became withdrawn from her friends and peers, and her grades began to drop as she had more and more trouble focusing. Susan had kept her pain to herself until she finally confided in a caring and understanding teacher. 

Susan was immediately referred to the Corbett Trauma Center by Child Protective Services and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department. When she began her counseling, she refused to talk about the abuse. If her therapist even used the term "sexual abuse", Susan panicked and the rest of the session was devoted to teaching Susan calming exercises.  

Over the course of the next twelve weeks, Susan slowly began to open up about her abuse. Susan and her therapist discussed what had happened to her and how she was not in any way responsible for the abuse. She learned how to differentiate between good touches and bad touches, how to say no when put in an uncomfortable situation, and how to calm herself if she was feeling anxious or angry.  

Corbett Trauma Center often provides therapy for the family of the victim if they are experiencing guilt or trauma over the event. In conjunction with Susan's own counseling, her older sister, Elizabeth, also received therapy as she felt partly responsible for not recognizing Susan's abuse. Through counseling, Elizabeth came to understand that she was also not responsible for what happened to Susan. Her participation in Susan's counseling brought them much closer together and aided in Susan's overall progress.  

Susan's healing journey at Corbett Trauma Center was one of transformation. No longer in pain and withdrawn from others, she was filled with happiness and had a renewed thirst for life. Her therapists explained her transformation as "a night and day difference". She became more outgoing and began to thrive once again. Her relationship with her sister was also strengthened as result of her experience. Susan's story of success is just one of many that came to be as a result of specialized counseling and care at Corbett Trauma Center.