The Hidden Trauma of Childhood Sexual Abuse No One Talks About (Holding Space with Dr. Barker)
One of the deepest wounds of childhood sexual abuse isn’t only the abuse itself. It’s the identity that forms afterward — the beliefs about who you are, what you’re worth, and whether joy is for you. Dr. Christopher Barker and I go into that hidden layer in this conversation: complex PTSD, the nervous system, shame, and reclaiming the person trauma convinced you you weren’t.
One of the deepest wounds of childhood sexual abuse isn’t just the abuse itself. It’s the identity that forms afterward. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Christopher Barker sits down with trauma educator and survivor Lisha Antiqua to discuss how childhood sexual abuse shapes our beliefs about ourselves, our nervous systems, our relationships, and even our ability to experience joy. Together they explore why healing isn’t simply about remembering what happened—it’s about reclaiming the person trauma convinced you you weren’t. In this episode:
✔ Childhood sexual abuse and identity
✔ Complex PTSD and the nervous system
✔ Trauma, shame, and self-worth
✔ Emotional intelligence after trauma
✔ Why happiness can feel unsafe
✔ Post-traumatic growth
✔ Healing through self-compassion
We covered it all. Whether you’re a survivor, therapist, healthcare professional, or someone seeking to better understand trauma, this conversation offers hope, insight, and practical ways to think differently about healing. I hope you enjoy the listen and let me know if you have any questions.
