AboutLucille Zimmerman Expertise I can answer questions related to childhood sexual abuse, specifically the ways it negatively
impacts a person emotionally.
Experience For two years I have led a weekly support group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Organizations American Association of Christian Counseling, American Psychological Association, EMDRIA
Publications Several newspaper articles. I am now working on a book with an agent.
Education/Credentials Master of Arts in Counseling
Awards and Honors Maintained a 3.95 GPA in graduate school
Past/Present Clients I have worked with clients who have Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously called multiple personality disorder) due to post-traumatic stress surrounding childhood sexual abuse. I have spent lots of time with this type of clientele
Question I am not sure if I was molested by my grandfather or if he was just trying to
help me. I was 13 years old when it happened and it only happened once. I
was at the age where I was learning how to masturbate and quite often
masturbated before I went to sleep. I was in my grandparents fifth wheel
camper and I had the urge to masturbate. I was in a hallway bed and my
grandfather got up to use the bathroom and saw me masturbating. I quickly
acted like I was sleeping. My grandfather came out of the bathroom and went
to check on my sister I guess in another bed. A few minutes later he came by
me. I was turned on my side away from him pretending I was sleeping when
he reached his hand into my pajamas and grabbed my penis. I was scared
and acted like I was waking up hoping he would leave. But then he whispered
in my ear that it was perfectly normal to masturbate if I wanted to and began
stoking me until I ejaculated. Then he removed his hand and kissed me
goodnight and went to bed. It never happened again. I think about this all
the time and wonder if I was molested.
Answer Yes, I would consider that molestation. I consider it abuse when someone uses another for their own sexual gratification. There is a big difference between a person touching their own body and another touching your body. You did not consent to that. Yes, I think that was abuse.
