“Healing From Childhood Abuse: Don Shetterly”

The first time I was introduced to Shaina Noll’s music was at a Voices conference in Chicago, IL. Ellen Bass was completing her keynote address at the conference and she ended with the audience singing “How Could Anyone”.

It was the first time I had ever heard this song and singing it with fellow survivors brought me to tears. Here are the words to this song:

‘How could anyone ever tell you – you were anything less than beautiful. how could anyone ever tell you – you were less than whole. How could anyone fail to notice that your loving is a miracle. How deeply you’re connected to my soul.’

The next time I heard this song was when a therapist played it for me one day in a therapy session. I immediately recognized it and with the topic of the therapy session, it brought tears to my eyes. Fortunately I was able to find the CD, Songs For The Inner Child, which features the song How Could Anyone.

During this time, I was going through a very difficult point in my life and the little child within me was hurting so much. I began to play this CD time and time again. Most of the time, I would play only the song How Could Anyone. in the morning before leaving for work and then before I went to bed at night. I did this for about a month and it began to change how I viewed myself and how I started to accept myself.

Don Shetterly

Breaking the Silence.net, “a place for survivors of child abuse and those who support them, including therapists, educators, and legislators.” Their online store carries both of Shaina’s titles, if you would like to order directly from them.