Courage to Speak Your Truth, The

True strength lies in the courage to be yourself and speak your truth. When Kath Essing recalled the sexual abuse from her childhood, her life turned upside-down. The secret had been hidden for decades, even from herself. After 23 years of navigating her own mental health issues, Kath was ready to face her greatest challenge and disclose the experiences of her childhood sexual abuse to police. The complicated history meant it wasn’t going to be easy to prove the historical sexual crimes; but this was more than seeking justice; it was about having the courage to speak up, finding the strength to heal, and shatter the silence that suffocated her. This intimate memoir invites the reader into the confronting world of childhood abuse, family dynamics, and the emotional and psychological aspects of surviving and recovering as an adult. Kath’s story inspires readers to reclaim their voice by remembering, recovering, and reportingthe experiences of childhood sexual abuse. The Courage to Speak Your Truth helps uplift survivors and enable them to transform their pain to purpose and change the conversation regarding childhood abuse. Kath advocates that together – with courage – survivors can shift the narrative of child abuse and dismantle the silence that maintains its cycle. www.bespeak.au/