Posted by deirdrehbrt on February 12, 2006, at 17:04:28
In reply to You will not believe this!, posted by wildcard11 on February 12, 2006, at 16:42:27
Wildcard,
I'm glad that you will get your day in court. He deserves to face trial for his crime.
I'm not sure if you have a therapist, but if you don't, please talk to one, or call your local rape crisis, or women's resource center. Talk to someone.
If this is an actual trial, and you have to take the stand, the defense will likely try to *prove* or at least insinuate that it *was* your fault. This is cruel, but it is a common tactic. You'll need emotional resources to deal with it.
In the organization that I worked for, we would provide a counselor (all volunteers) to accompany the survivor to the hospital, to the police station, or to court, just to be there with them. These counselors are trained people, dedicated to you. What you say is held in confidence.
Please protect yourself from further harm from this person. Have someone you trust with you. The trial, though your chance to confront him can still be a disturbing event, both for the defendant's attempt to blame you, and because you will need to revisit all of the things that happened.
I'm SO proud of you for being willing to take this step and being willing to put an animal behind bars. You are protecting not only yourself, but other women as well. Many people who commit such an act once go on to do it again. You are SO brave.
Blessigns,
--Dee.
poster:deirdrehbrt
thread:608878
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060212/msgs/609010.html