The main attraction in the tiny room is a lovely mannequin exquisitely adorned in a wedding gown. The silent bride wears brown hair draped carelessly over her shoulders, with a simple train flowing behind her. But the gown is not on display.

When one gets closer to the mannequin, what appeared as shadows from a distance are now seen for what they are. There is blood smeared on her face, arms, and legs. There are knives and other sharp objects of pain as a part of the exhibit. "This is the way I wish I could have come to my wedding, honestly, with the marks of seventeen years of sadistic ritualistic sexual abuse clearly visible," wrote artist Bonnie Summers.

Ms. Summers' mannequin, along with over 400 sculptures, photographs, paintings, drawings, collages, and writing are all part of an exhibit called "The Art of Healing II" which is located in a center for psychiatric and chemical dependency treatment.

The women whose work makes up the display use a variety of art forms to communicate their sense of loss, and of the pain which has been an integral part of their lives. Bonnie Summers' work is entitled "Married Under False Pretense - The Bride I Was Just Under My Veil". Placing the articles on the train behind the mannequin was significant for Ms. Summers because it demonstrates that the abuse is securely in her past. "With abuse," she boasts, "I am convinced, the best revenge is learning to live fully."

Indeed, with the various types of abuse faced by a vast majority of the foster children with whom we work, a prevalent issue is the "working through", the process of trying desperately to come to some sort of resolution to sometimes horrific events. As so aptly illustrated by Ms. Summers, there are a myriad of ways in which this may be accomplished. The challenges lie in both helping children feel safe and free to express feelings regarding past abuse, and in guiding them to find positive ways to articulate their pain.

It may well take a great deal of time before a child feels confident that her world has become a secure place. A big piece of the impression of impregnability can be accomplished with things so often considered mundane. This may involve such ideas as establishing a routine in the household, and definite boundary setting and enforced limits on behavior, all embraced in an atmosphere of unconditional acceptance.

Certainly there are many elements that go into a foster or adoptive child experiencing security to the extent that she really goes to the next level of coming to some sort of resolution to past abuse. The point here is that the concern for protection must be satisfied. Only then can the child begin to reach deep inside herself and start the long, arduous journey of getting past the abuse.

As odd as it may sound, the going-back, the remembering, the processing of abuse, must wait until that happens. Perhaps it may be illustrated by thinking of someone greatly fearing taking a trip to the dentist, but desperately needing to go. She may go in for an appointment complaining of a terrible toothache and want to direct the pulling of one particular tooth. but when the dentist gets a good look inside, he sees that the patient much undergo a root canal to really solve the source of the problem. there are definitely some basic trust issues involved here.

First, since the person is afraid to go to the dentist in the first place, she already is in considerable pain before she finally consents to sitting in "the chair". But she has to trust that the dentist can help eliminate the pain, though temporarily there may be needles and drilling.

Further, she has to believe that the dentist's assessment is correct - that indeed a root canal is necessary. In essence, the pain must intensify prior to being alleviated. so it is with the victims of abuse. The combination of a willingness to confront the source of victimization, and a trust in those who seek to aid in that endeavor are needed for the journey to truly begin.

We must remember, too, that each victim's excursion in the deep valley of pain may take a different path. Some may fly and get there more quickly. Others may go by train. Still others may need to go in a taxi, with one particular "driver" who goes with them all the way. And there are even those who prefer to walk quietly and alone.

Undeniably, a child will likely benefit most from the form of "therapy" that appeals to her on a personal level. In other words, let the victim incorporate the methods of expression with which she feels comfortable. If an individual enjoys art, art therapy may be a Godsend. But for someone with absolutely no artistic interest, little, if anything will be accomplished with that method.

Creativity is needed. Get to know the child, and she will naturally show you the various ways she just naturally expresses herself. An extension of that can be used to create a therapeutic environment that allows her to eventually communicate her pain, and to put it behind her.

A child may like to draw, to sculpt, to write, to talk. Conversely, a youngster may be more physical and have a love of sports. She may like to read or play a musical instrument. She may sing or dance or act. I am not trying to say that simply having a child draw pictures, or sculpt, or swim, or write, or any number of other ideas we could conjure up is going to be a cure-all. And I am not saying that all children will even be immediately open to the idea of using a particular interest to convey the intense agony of abuse.

But what I am saying is that every person who has experienced the vehemence of victimization must have an outlet to capture the essence of who they are. It is not necessarily the implementation of the therapeutic form that is the essence of the benefit. It is the use of a certain format to attempt to understand the child's perception of her situation. then gradually, she may be allowed to see a progression in her personal journey as her own understanding of past events becomes more clear.

Bonnie Summers decorated a mannequin in great detail as a lasting illustration of her conquered demons. All victims of abuse would benefit from an outlet that lets them express the intensity of their anguish in the atmosphere of security. In their own ways, let them make pictures of their pain. The healing is in the drawing, not in the picture itself.

Biography of Jennie Martin

Jennie Martin has a B.A. in psychology and speech, and a master's degree in counseling psychology, as well as years of experience working with troubled children and families, both as a therapist in a youth residential setting, and as a supervisor for a nonprofit agency working with foster care, family-centered services, independent living, and special needs adoption. In addition, Mrs. Martin has personally experienced a disrupted adoption.

Her educational background, coupled with her professional and personal experience, allow Mrs. Martin to bring a unique perspective to her writing. She has written/compiled an extensive foster parent training manual, published numerous articles, devotional material, and children's programs, and has an agent seeking a market for her first book. She enjoys speaking on a variety of topics.

Please feel free to contact Jennie Martin for questions or comments, or to request her as a speaker.