In a candid and moving conversation, Trevor Lindsay sat down with Debi Ray Rivers, of SCARS (Saving Children and Revealing Secrets), a non-profit organization committed to protecting children from abuse and supporting survivors. Their discussion centered around a profound shift in how society confronts the “dirty secrets” of child abuse—secrets that, for too long, lived in the shadows.
“There’s a tide that’s changed,” Debi reflected. “More and more, people are no longer hiding behind their secrets. We’re seeing survivors come forward, bravely exposing the trauma and abuse that once lived silently in their minds.”
She acknowledged the pain of these revelations but emphasized the power of speaking out. “Yes, it’s brave. When you share your story, you take something that lived in darkness and expose it to the light. And light always wins over darkness. When we share our pain, we begin to feel that light. But it has to be in our own time.”
Debi was clear—no one should ever be forced to tell their story. Survivors must be empowered to decide when and how to speak their truth. “It’s about giving power back to the survivors. Those of us who support them must create safe spaces, emotionally and physically, so they can reclaim that power.”
She also pointed to the inner work survivors must do, learning to recognize triggers and challenge the false beliefs that trauma can plant in the mind. “We are worthy. We are special. Even if someone stole our innocence and failed to protect us, we still matter. And we must remind survivors of that—again and again.”
Reflecting on SCARS’ journey, Debi admitted she hadn’t anticipated just how many survivors were out there. “It was like opening Pandora’s box. Years ago, people didn’t even use the word trauma. You were just supposed to get over it. But how do you expect a child to ‘get over’ not being loved, not being protected?”
She stressed that acknowledging pain is not about judgment—it’s about clarity. “Right is right, and wrong is wrong. We can never make wrong right. And we must never be afraid to say that. Even when it’s uncomfortable. Even when we care about the people involved.”
In a world still learning how to confront the realities of childhood abuse, voices like Debi’s—and the work of organizations like SCARS—remind us that healing begins with truth, and truth begins with the courage to bring what’s hidden into the light.
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