“My name is Wade. As a victim of child abuse, I’ve carried a lot of anger and resentment into my adulthood that has resulted in a failed marriage and other relationships. The way others view me, it’s almost like two personas: the professional standpoint where everything is fine. But when it comes to people who know me from an intimate standpoint, I’ve carried a trainload of guilt, anger, shame throughout my life. And carrying that has made a hindrance on my life. I’m tired of carrying those burdens of child abuse.”

Wade stands and tell the group, “My life is not working for me, because I failed at something that was most important to me and that was my marriage. I don’t want to be the person I am. I want to be honest. I want to be open.”

“Were you open and honest with your wife?” Dr. Phil asks.

“At times, no,” he says.

“So you had affairs, and your wife said, ‘I’ve had enough of that.’ How did it feel when your wife left you?”

“Horrible,” Wade says.

 

“There’s a lot of hurt going on in your world because you were hurt as a child,” Dr. Phil says.

“I was a child who was sexually abused for several years. I hid it. I denied it. I was angry about it. I’ve been violent about it and after a while it started to seep out.” Wade looks at Kathleen and says, “I’ve been raped — by a white man — when I was a kid.”

“How old were you?” Dr. Phil asks.

“Nine and 13.”

“How did you feel when they were done?”

“Weak, pathetic, useless, wanting to die,” Wade says.

“Do you know that she thinks about dying?” Dr. Phil asks, indicating Kathleen. “A lot.” Dr. Phil asks Kathleen to stand. “Are you surprised to hear that?”

“I’m surprised to hear that he was raped. He seems kind of together to me,” she says.