e are committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism.
Statement on Cardinal Edward Egan's Recent Retraction of Apology to Survivors of Sexual Assault
Washington, DC, February 16, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Reacting to Cardinal Edward Egan's recent retraction of the apology he gave to survivors of sexual abuse committed by priests in his own diocese, Mikele Rauch, a member of the MaleSurvivor Weekend of Recovery team and author of Healing the Soul After Religious Abuse issued the following statement:
"The inability for Cardinal Egan to see the damage of his retraction is profoundly disturbing. What we know is that for the representatives of the church to shamelessly deny responsibility for what they have done as well as deny its impact on survivors, is itself a consequence of shame and hubris. The truth is, it is not up to the Church to say they have done enough. We stand with every survivor who has been silenced, denied, or blamed - and we understand how Cardinal Egan's retraction is re-traumatizing to every survivor who has already suffered by the crimes done to them by members of the clergy. We support all male survivors who choose to stand in protest against any institution who denies responsibility in their failure to protect vulnerable victims."
MaleSurvivor Salutes Entertainment Mogul Tyler Perry, Boxing Great Sugar Ray Leonard, and CNN's Don Lemon
More and more prominent male figures are finding the courage to open up about surviving sexual abuse and offering men worldwide an example that healing is possible
Washington DC (May 24, 2011) - MaleSurvivor, a leading, global not-for-profit organization dedicated to overcoming sexual victimization of boys and men, issued a statement today officially saluting three prominent U.S. figures who have come forward with their stories about sexual abuse. This past fall, Tyler Perry stood together with 200 men on The Oprah Winfrey Show to bravely tell the world his story. In the past few weeks, Sugar Ray Leonard and CNN anchor Don Lemon have both found the courage to speak out about the abuse they experienced as young men and the damaging effects that abuse had on their lives.
"The honesty, bravery, and strength of these men must be commended, and MaleSurvivor stands in unity with them to salute their courage," remarked Founding Board Member, Dr. Howard Fradkin, who also appeared alongside Tyler Perry on The Oprah Winfrey Show in November 2010 to share his experience and educate the world about the realities of male sexual victimization.
According to MaleSurvivor:
- It is estimated that 1 in 6 men were sexually abused as children. This statistic increases to 1 in 4 men if sexual abuse done by someone who does not actually have physical contact is included.
- Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because boys are socially taught they should withstand emotional and physical pain without complaining.
- Most adult males that were abused report difficulties with intimate relationships because their ability to trust others has been damaged, often by people who told them they cared about them.
- For many men, their abuse leads to sexual orientation confusion, sexual dysfunctions, and difficulty believing it is possible to combine sex with love.
- Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because of extreme shame, because they believe it was their fault, and because they learned men are supposed to be strong and should never need help.
- Although the number of therapists in the world who specialize in treating male sexual abuse survivors has been increasing as organizations such as MaleSurvivor offering resources and education, the number needed to adequately treat this population is vastly underrepresented.
The courageous actions of these men are further proof that men and boys from all segments of our society are sexually victimized. By sharing their stories so openly, each of these men is making it easier for others to step out of the shadows to speak their truth and seek out the help they need. Abuse survivors are at much higher risk for suffering from depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide. However it is possible to overcome the painful effects of abuse.
About MaleSurvivor
MaleSurvior (www.MaleSurvivor.org) is not-for-profit organization committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Founded in 1994, the organization has reached over 50 million individuals whose lives have been forever impacted by sexual abuse. Twitter: @MaleSurvivorORG
MaleSurvivor’s Dr. Howard Fradkin issues statement as “how-to” e-book for pedophiles makes headlines
Founding board member of not-for-profit organization dedicated to overcoming male sexual victimization gives opinion on the controversial tome recently pulled from Amazon.com
Los Angeles, Calif., (November 11, 2010) — After reading the recent CNN report about Phillip Greaves’ e-book being boycotted by thousands of Amazon.com users, Dr. Howard Fradkin, founding board member of MaleSurvivor, wants people to understand the reality of children who have been sexually victimized by pedophiles. Researchers have found that one in six boys are sexually abused by the age of eighteen, with an average age of ten for the first incident. Most boyhood sexual abuse occurs between the ages of two and fifteen at the hands of adults commonly referred to as pedophiles.
"While I have not read the book, I have read Phillip Greaves' comments from his interview with CNN. Here is what I would like people to understand:
“True love does not include hurting children, and any time a child is violated sexually, either through penetration, sexual kissing or fondling, it hurts the child. Children do not have the capacity to give informed consent; even if a child perceives some pleasure in the attention received from a pedophile, in my experience it is always harmful to the child, not just in the moment, but for a very long time.
“From my perspective, loving a child commits an adult to protect the child from the demands of adult sexual needs and desires. Pedophiles are unable to see their behavior as harmful to a child which is why they describe it as being a loving way to introduce sexuality to a child.
“It may only be much later in adulthood that children experience the ill effects of the abuse, which often includes problems with emotional and sexual intimacy stemming from an inability to trust, substance abuse, sexual addiction, confusion in sexual orientation, depression, and suicide.
“The imposition of adult sexuality and emotional needs on a child is a developmental catastrophe, even when it is done with the 'best of intentions', the sort of good intentions I suspect Philip Greaves may argue for in his book.
“Most survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not become pedophiles, although it is believed most pedophiles were themselves victims of sexual abuse in childhood. Pedophiles often lack true empathy for the negative effects of their own childhood experiences of abuse and similarly lack true empathy for the negative effects of their sexual behavior with children.
“I would hope that instead of a book being written to help pedophiles engage in their behavior with less shame and guilt, a book should be written to help pedophiles identify the ways in which they mistake their own adult sexual desires toward children as an act of love, rather than as an act of self-gratification.”
Dr. Fradkin is available to render expert opinion and commentary about the subject of male sexual victimization and recovery for individuals.
About Dr. Howard Fradkin
Howard Fradkin, Ph.D., LICDC has counseled over 1000 male survivors over the course of his twenty-eight year career as a Psychologist. As co-chairperson of the MaleSurvivor Weekends of Recovery, Howard has directed thirty-four recovery seminars for over 600 men. Dr. Fradkin has also supervised and trained hundreds of professional colleagues on the topic of psychotherapy with male survivors of sexual abuse. He founded Affirmations: A Center for Psychotherapy and Growth, in Columbus, Ohio in 1984. Recent media credits include: Gayle King XM Radio show, Columbus Dispatch, WBNS-TV in Columbus, and appearing as an expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show on November 5, 2010 and November 12, 2010, alongside Tyler Perry and 200 brave men to lift the veil of shame surrounding male sexual abuse.
About MaleSurvivor
MaleSurvior (www.MaleSurvivor.org) is not-for-profit organization committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Founded in 1994, the organization has reached over 50 million individuals whose lives have been forever impacted by sexual abuse.
MaleSurvivor’s Dr. Howard Fradkin to appear with 200 male sexual abuse victims on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on Friday, November 5 and Friday, November 12
Washington DC (November 3, 2010) – MaleSurvivor, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to overcoming sexual victimization in boys and men through its membership program, weekend workshops, and bi-annual International Conference in New York City, has announced that founding board member and current Weekends of Recovery co-chair, Dr. Howard Fradkin, will appear on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”
On Friday, November 5th, 2010 and Friday, November 12th, 2010, Dr. Fradkin will join actor/producer Tyler Perry and 200 male sexual abuse survivors for a historic discussion about the pain, suffering, and recovery process that accompanies this often misrepresented topic.
Dr. Fradkin, who has counseled over 1000 male survivors in individual, couples, group psychotherapy and weekend workshops over the course of his 28 year career as a Psychologist, said: “This was a profound opportunity to open the doors for all male sexual abuse survivors to break their silence, speak their truth, let go of their shame and find hope, healing and support that results from joining in community with fellow survivors and the people who love and affirm their right to heal.”
According to MaleSurvivor:
- It is estimated that 1 in 6 men were sexually abused as children. This statistic increases to 1 in 4 men if sexual abuse done by someone who does not actually have physical contact is included.
- Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because boys are socially taught they should withstand emotional and physical pain without complaining.
- Most adult males that were abused report having difficulty with intimate relationships because their ability to trust others has been damaged, often by people who told them they cared about them.
- For many men, their abuse leads to sexual orientation confusion, sexual dysfunctions, and difficulty believing it is possible to combine sex with love.
- Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because of extreme shame, because they believe it was their fault, and because they learned men are supposed to be strong and should never need help
- Although the number of therapists in the world who specialize in treating male sexual abuse survivors has been increasing as organizations such as MaleSurvivor offering resources and education, the number needed to adequately treat this population is vastly underrepresented.
Added Dr. Fradkin: "The show is also a remarkable demonstration of the healing that is possible when a community of men can stand together to speak their truth."
For more information about male sexual victimization, or to learn more about MaleSurvivor’s programs and community support, visit: www.MaleSurvivor.org. For interviews with Dr. Fradkin, please contact Trisha Massa at: YTAMassa[at]aol.com or call 614-445-8277.
About Dr. Howard Fradkin
Howard Fradkin, Ph.D., LICDC has counseled over 1000 male survivors in individual, couples, group psychotherapy and weekend workshops over the course of his 28 year career as a Psychologist. As Co-Chairperson of the MaleSurvivor Weekends of Recovery, Howard has directed 34 Weekends of Recovery since 2001 for over 600 men. Dr. Fradkin has also supervised and trained hundreds of professional colleagues on the topic of psychotherapy with male survivors of sexual abuse. Dr. Fradkin is the founder of Affirmations: A Center for Psychotherapy and Growth, in Columbus, Ohio.About MaleSurvivor
MaleSurvior (www.MaleSurivor.org) is not-for-profit organization committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Founded in 1994, the organization has reached over 50 million individuals whose lives have been forever impacted by sexual abuse.
MaleSurvivor Weekends of Recovery for male sexual abuse survivors offer hope and healing for many
Co-chaired by Dr. Howard Fradkin and Jim Struve, LCSW, recovery program focuses on lifting the veil of shame surrounding male sexual victimization while offering a community of support for survivors
Washington DC (November 17, 2010) – MaleSurvivor, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to overcoming sexual victimization in boys and men through its interactive website, membership program, weekend workshops, and bi-annual International Conference in New York City, has announced the 2011 schedule of events for its Weekends of Recovery. The program, launched in 2001 and serving male sexual abuse survivors from all over the world, is the only one of its kind and aims to provide a safe haven for those suffering from the painful aftermath of sexual abuse.
Researchers have found that one in six males are sexually abused or assaulted. Most boyhood sexual abuse occurs between the ages of two and fifteen at the hands of adults commonly referred to as pedophiles. Although less frequently reported, rape and sexual assault is also a reality for many adult men.
Dr. Fradkin, co-chairperson of the Weekends of Recovery who has counseled over 1000 male survivors over the course of his twenty-eight year career as a Psychologist, said: “The Weekends of Recovery program provides a safe and secure environment for male sexual abuse survivors to break their silence, speak their truth, let go of their shame, find hope, and ultimately join with other male survivors in a community that can support their ongoing healing.”
Added co-chairperson Jim Struve, LCSW, who was recently awarded the 2010 Richard Gartner Award for Clinical Contribution for his work with male survivors: “Most men NEVER talk about their abuse because boys are socially taught they should withstand emotional and physical pain without complaining. Furthermore, their abuse often leads to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, relationship difficulties, sexual orientation confusion, sexual dysfunctions, and difficulty believing it is possible to combine sex with love. During the Weekends of Recovery we address many of these misconceptions and offer the attendees tools for hope and healing as they bravely begin to lift the veil of shame around their sexual abuse.”
The Weekends of Recovery program is divided into two levels: Level I Weekends are open to all male survivors ages eighteen and older, regardless of where they are in their recovery process. Advanced Weekends are open only to alumni of MaleSurvivor Level I Weekends. The 2011 Level I Weekends will take place on the following dates at these locations:
- March 25 to 27: Sequoia Retreat Center, Santa Cruz, California (Registration now open)
- May 13 to 15: Center for New Beginnings, Dahlonega, Georgia (one hour north of Atlanta)
- July 15 to 17: Kempenfelt Conference Centre, Barrie, Ontario, Canada (one hour north of Toronto)?
- October 21 to 23: Hope Springs Institute, Peebles, Ohio (one and a half hours southeast of Columbus, and 1 1/2 hours north of Cincinnati)
The 2011 Advanced Weekend of Recovery will take place September 9 to 11 at the Alta Lodge in Alta, Utah.
Early registration discounts of $50 will be available for the 1st month registration is open. Paid members of MaleSurvivor will also receive $75 off their registration cost. Registration costs will be posted when registration is open for each weekend, and are dependent upon the type of accommodation chosen.
For more information about male sexual victimization, or to learn more about MaleSurvivor’s Weekends of Recovery programs visit: www.MaleSurvivor.org. For all other inquiries please contact Howard Fradkin at: HFradkin[at]MaleSurvivor.org or call 1-800-738-4181.
About MaleSurvivor
MaleSurvior (www.MaleSurvivor.org) is a not-for-profit organization committed to preventing, healing, and eliminating all forms of sexual victimization of boys and men through support, treatment, research, education, advocacy, and activism. Founded in 1994, the organization has reached over 50 million individuals whose lives have been forever impacted by sexual abuse.
