(Washington, NJ) Tracey Wilson Heisler, MA is known for many things in our community: child advocate, trauma educator, and protector of farmland from warehouse development. She now has a new identity: local author. Her inaugural book, The Shadow in Our Lives: One family’s recovery from child sexual abuse, was recently released.
“It’s never been a secret,” says Heisler, “but my first husband molested one of our children. She disclosed the abuse to me 20 years ago, and we have worked hard for decades now to help everyone recover from this trauma. I wrote this book, with my children’s permission, to help other families learn from our experiences: what we did right, what we did wrong, and what we learned along the way.”
“The statistics are staggering.” Heisler continued. “The CDC reports 1 in every 4 girls and somewhere between 1 in every 6-13 boys are sexually molested before age 18. There are a lot of children and families out there who are struggling with the guilt, shame, stigma, and fear of child welfare that comes with this kind of crime. Many caregivers do not know who to talk to or who to trust. That’s why I wrote this book – to support caregivers in crisis who need practical information and help quickly.”
Heisler has sent free copies of the book to every domestic violence shelter, child advocacy center, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program in the state to reach people who actively need information and support. To find resources and to learn more about Heisler’s story, visit the author’s website at www.theshadowinourlives.com or social media at www.facebook.com/TheShadowInOurLives.
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