Lucy Charlotte Cherry

Lucy Charlotte Cherry, mother of three, married 27years and has worked as a counsellor for the last 16 years. She has completed research in the field of trauma and has presented at conferences in the United Kingdom. She loves meeting new people through her everyday work and has had years of witnessing people’s determination to overcome traumatic experiences.

Lucy was a child in the 1960's during the Troubles / conflict in N Ireland. The first section is a narrative about her childhood and adulthood experiences. There were the bombs, scares and the fear, which surrounded life. Stories of people dying simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Then there was home life - and her father's anger, plus the unwitting effects of sexual abuse by another family member.

To outsiders, Lucy life appeared to perfect. Her parents worked hard and were always well presented.

Problems presented due to how Lucy responded to her traumatic world. She was told she was loved but yet her father's angry outbursts suggested the opposite. His threats to kill her - were to real to emotionally connect too.

Lucy survived by a process of disassociation. She lived in an imaginary world, where she could feel no pain. Her behaviour though was peculiar.

Lucy's was viewed as 'different'. She was described as having a vivid imagination.

The memories came back of childhood sexual abuse - Lucy could no longer live in her safe world. Time to grow up and fend for self. She experienced the reality of a mother who could not support her. She was advised to bury the past. Forget about it. But she learnt that is never possible!

Section 2 is about counselling and healing from her childhood

Section 3 - Traumatic growth, hinderances and working as a counsellor.

The torment of the memories only died, when she faced the truth and understood her past.

For those interested in living in Northern Ireland during the Troubles

Self help book for healing

This book is for those who have experienced child sexual abuse and need help to understand what is happening.

Useful book for families who have experienced disclosure

The experience of counselling

If you are contemplating training to become a counsellor

Counselling as a career

Insight - working with traumatised clients

To heal - Lucy had to confront her past, understand her past and learn to live with her past.

Everyone can heal and experience freedom and this book demonstrates how this can be achieved.