Amy Nordhues is an author and speaker who hopes to use her experience both as a new Christian and as a victim of sexual abuse by a therapist/clergy to help, support and educate others. She is currently seeking publication for her memoir, entitled Prayed Upon, where she recounts her story of abuse, escape and ultimate healing by a predatory psychiatrist and church elder. In all she does, whether its writing, speaking or photography she hopes to point people towards the source of all hope — a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Through the telling of her very personal story she hopes to provide insight into the following:
- The inner workings of the abuse process of adult victims
- How past childhood abuse can make an adult vulnerable to predators
- Understanding how an otherwise functional adult can be duped provides much needed healing for the victim and aides loved ones in providing support
- Recognizing and bringing “into the light” the defective beliefs that are causing victims to doubt their own realities and become ensnared by abusers
- Realizing the inherent dangers of stepping into a counselor’s office where there are no witnesses and where the client will be unfairly dubbed “unstable”
- Awareness about this under-reported type of abuse—a therapist is always in a position of power over the client and therapist sex with a client is currently illegal in only half of our states
- Seeing God’s hand at work on our behalf even amidst our tribulations
- Knowing that no situation is too dire that God cannot use it for good
- The awareness that Christ is our ultimate healer
