Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa Reiff.
Theresa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
There were two critical experiences in my life. The first was being sexually abused throughout my childhood. The second was when I asked Jesus to be in my life. If I had experienced the first without the second, I wouldn’t have the personal story of victory I can share now. From the ages of sixteen to twenty-one, God allowed me to repress the memories of my abuse. In those years, I developed arelationship with Jesus that can only be described as the closest relationship a person can ever have. Relying on that relationship offered support, created space to heal,and brought me to a place of complete forgiveness for my abuser. Today, I am passionate about helping people find freedom from past abuse, and that is why I wrote: Overcoming Sexual Abuse: From the Inside Out, available on Amazon.com in Paperback or for Kindle.
Has it been a smooth road?
Life for me has felt a lot like a roller-coaster, with a lot of ups and downs, which were not always as enjoyable as an amusement park ride. At the age of twenty-one, when my memories came flooding back, it was incredibly hard to face. In those days, I saw a counselor once a week and spent hours in counseling groups, which was incredibly helpful. Through those months, I gained tools to help me understand my life more clearly. Those tools also ironed out the rough potholes and rocky spots in my heart that were left behind by abuse. I was able to heal and grow through my relationship with Jesus and the encouraging words in the Bible. I have continued to meet with acounselor on-and-off over the years through new seasons and new challenges. Finding forgiveness brought freedom, and I have great anticipation that my book will help people with similar backgrounds to mine.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
As a newly self-published author, I have a lot on my plate. Self-publishing requires wearing a lot of hats! I get to market my book on social media, take speaking opportunities in person and on podcasts, and will soon start creating the audio version of my book. This process has been an incredible learning opportunity, and I am really looking forward to publishing my next book.
One thing that sets my book apart from others is that it does not include the specific details of my abuse. In reading other books on this topic I found that they included specific details of abuse that caused me to be re-injured rather than helped. That’s in my book I focus onthe solutions that helped me overcome what I was facing. I share my journey from feeling caged to being free, from mourning to joy and from bitterness to forgiveness.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Dallas is an amazing city full of incredible people. I love the diversity and variety of activities downtown. The size of the city is incredible which unfortunately for me can be both an adventure and a challenge. I was not born with an inner compass. Driving on the highways downtown my GPS has sometimes cut out, giving me the opportunity to see the same beautiful lights over and over again!
Pricing:
- Overcoming Sexual Abuse: From the Inside Out by Theresa Reiff – paperback on Amazon.com $5.99
- Overcoming Sexual Abuse: From the Inside Out by Theresa Reiff – Kindle version on Amazon.com $.99
Contact Info:
- Website: theresareiff.com
- Email: info@theresareiff.com
- Instagram: @treiff42
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresa.reiff
Image Credit:
Anna Reiff
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