Letters to a Broken Girl

by Douglas Wilson

In this series of fictitious letters, Douglas Wilson counsels a young woman, Gabrielle, who is dealing with the aftermath of sexual abuse. Drawing on four decades of pastoral experience, Wilson points her to freedom and wholeness in Christ. Although every abuse survivor’s story is different, they wrestle with the same questions: Where was God in this? Must I forgive? Should I just “let it go”? Don’t I have a right to be angry? Wilson addresses these questions—as well as issues such as self-harm and self-recrimination, future relationships (romantic and otherwise), and identity in Christ—with compassion and biblical clarity.

Letters to a Broken Girl is a valuable resource for survivors of sexual trauma and those who seek to help them find healing and restoration.

ebook

Published February 19, 2018

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. This will be helpful to many.

[Thad Irvine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disconnected from reality

The author comes across as remote, disconnected and patronising. We only read about His response to Gabrielle's letters (who is a character in the book, who suffered from sexual assault at the hands of her father). The story is based upon the author's experience of working in this field of counselling, and this work is an amalgam of scenarios of various clients as experiences. The author is too involved, and steers the girl in HIS direction rather than hers. We never read the girl's letters, only the author's responses. The responses are patronising, condescending, too clinical and dispassionate. There is no real compassion or connection with Gabrielle. This is an object lesson in how NOT to counsel victims of sexual abuse. It created, for this reader, a sense of the author's belief in his own superiority and expertise.
I would NOT recommend this work for those looking to help victims of sexual abuse or sexual trauma.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was excellent. Very wise advice, with clear expression of basic principles. If Wilson would stick to writing this kind of stuff, perhaps he wouldn't be such a lightning rod. But then, if he did that, he might not have the experience to be able to write this sort of thing clearly.

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.
Something that would have been helpful for me, oh, say 15 years ago.Thankful for the timeless, solidly biblical truths Doug Wilson communicates, especially with such a highly sensitive subject.

[Patrick Porras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helped me love the Gospel more. Made me grateful for Christ's love and helped me to feel Christ's love. Wilson's ability to practically apply the Gospel is something to aspire to. This books sheds light on his love and care for women and his pastoral heart exudes throughout. This also made me further resolve to pursue much help in my own counseling abilities and skill. Pastor as counselor and pastor as preacher and pastor as prayer may be the three pillars of pastoral ministry.

[Leticia Méndez · Rating 5 out of 5]

La verdad muchas veces es como la buena medicina, sabe amarga pero sí que sana. Agradezco la valentía y el amor del Pastor Wilson al escribir este libro, para mí es un tesoro de libro, super útil no solo para las víctimas de abuso pero para el que las quiera ayudar.

[Bryan Kuranaga · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of letters written to an imaginary (but unfortunately all too common) victim of sexual assault. Wilson shines in this book and provides an example of biblical counseling. His approach is of the nouthetic tradition and he seeks to lay a biblical foundation (what he calls "Setting the Bone") from the onset. I will probably re-read this book sometime in the future (my wife and I read this together. This is her first read and my third).