One Child’s Journey… Natalie was the first sexual abuse victim that ever sang to me. She was an energetic, talkative eight-year-old whose blond ponytail bounced as she explored the interview room. I’m used to spending the first part of a forensic interview helping the child accommodate themselves to the interview environment and establishing rapport with them. I want that child to feel some level of trust and comfort with me before we begin the difficult task of talking about their possible sexual victimization. Many children are understandably anxious about talking to me, a total stranger, about something they’d rather not talk about at all. I know that if the interview is successful, I’ll leave the interview room with a thorough understanding of what the child has experienced relative to the allegations being investigated. But of equal importance, my goal is to obtain that information in a way that is neutral, legally sound and, importantly, sensitive to the special needs of that child. But things started out differently with Natalie. She walked with me into the interview room and announced, “I made up a song for you while you were talking to my mom.” The smile never left her face as she sang a rambling tune about summer and trees and dogs and the beach. It was clear that Natalie wanted me to like her and she was offering me a gift. But it didn’t take long to see that Natalie would have preferred singing, joking around, or talking to me about almost anything other than the “secret” she’d been carrying around for a number of years. And so we began the complicated dance of establishing trust, talking about the “bad stuff”, backing away and letting us both re-group, and circling back around to the reason we were here. Throughout the interview, Natalie’s face, her body and her words showed the struggle taking place within: She wanted the abuse to end, but she loved Grandpa and didn’t want him to get in trouble. By the end of our time together, an emotionally exhausted Natalie had disclosed how she had been repeatedly sexually victimized over a period of three years by someone she loved and trusted. Natalie was able to provide sufficient detail to lead the multidisciplinary team who observed the interview through a one-way mirror -- which included a prosecutor, a children’s protective services worker, and a law enforcement officer -- to agree that allegations of sexual abuse had been validated. A warrant was issued for multiple charges of first degree criminal sexual conduct, and Grandpa was arrested within hours. Natalie’s disclosure, however, was just the first step in the healing process for herself and her family. It was likely that Natalie would be needed to testify in court about her victimization – an unnerving prospect for most adults, and a potentially traumatizing event for a child. At the same time, Natalie would have to begin the difficult task of coming to terms with her victimization. Within days of her disclosure, Natalie began working with the CAC therapist. This therapist and Natalie spent the first few visits getting to know and trust one another. Through talking, listening, and therapeutic games and exercises, the therapist and Natalie worked to reduce the emotional impact of her disclosure. They also began the steps necessary to promote healing, self-awareness and growth. This therapist is also working with Natalie and her mother to change individual behaviors and family relationships in order to eliminate the risk of future abuse. The therapist and Natalie have talked extensively about the court process and what Natalie can expect when asked to testify about what Grandpa had done. Perhaps most importantly, Natalie’s time with this therapist provides her a safe place to grieve the loss of her relationship with her grandfather. Natalie’s family is still too angry to be able to talk about the “good” sides of grandpa and to be able to listen in a supportive way when Natalie talks about how much she misses him. The CAC therapist and Natalie will work together for a period of months, helping Natalie and her family to recover from the immediate crisis of a disclosure of sexual abuse. As Natalie grows and matures, the meaning of her sexual abuse experience may change for her, and she may again find it necessary to talk with a professional about her feelings. We believe that Natalie’s experience with the CAC team and her on-going work with the CAC therapist will make it more likely that she will reach out for the help needed to continue the healing process throughout her life. I strongly believe that, with help, Natalie will recover from her abuse and will go on to lead a healthy, productive life. It will be a long journey for her and for her family, and I’m proud of the CAC’s involvement in helping her start the process of recovery. And I can’t help but smile when I think that she had the courage to begin the journey with a song.