Hi! I’m, Hazel Katherine Larkin, and I am a survivor of child sexual abuse, trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, domestic violence, rape, and narcissistic abuse from my mother and former partners. I have no contact with my family of origin on account of all of them siding with my abusers. This is not unusual in families where a victim speaks out.
Most importantly of all, I am pleased, proud, and grateful to be the mother of two amazing, adult, daughters.
Academically, I hold a BA (Hons) in Psychology & Sociology; an MA in Sexuality Studies; an LLM in International Human Rights Law, from Queen’s University in Belfast; and a PhD. The research for my PhD focused on the relationships between daughters and mothers in Ireland where both have histories of child sexual abuse.
Theatre, however, is my first love, and my first qualification is in Theatre. I bring my Drama background to most of what I do. Drama, and Theatre, are hugely therapeutic tools and can help us tell our stories, and bear witness to others’. We are all all about our stories, and in finding meaning in our own narratives. As someone who loves stories, I am fascinated by words. I am also a stickler for words being used correctly. If you’re interested in what I mean by the words “Trauma” and “Recovery”, among others, you can check this page.
I have chosen to centre my work on people whose trauma has been caused by abuse – chiefly child sexual abuse, and / or narcissistic relationships. I provide support, information, and education to people with histories of abuse, and those who support them.
Among the programmes I offer are The Lilac Programme (for parents who were sexually abused as children); The Ivy Programme (for daughters of narcissistic mothers); The Pink Orchid Course for women who wish to reclaim their sexuality after sexual violence, and The Verbena Programme (for parents of children and teens who were sexually abused).
For medical professionals – including nurses, midwives, doctors, dentists, lactation consultants, and social workers – I offer courses in providing trauma-sensitive care to women with histories of child sexual abuse. Should you prefer, I can work with you to tailor-make a programme for you, and / or your organisation. If you require a speaker for an event, or a professional to provide a lecture, or a series of lectures, I would be happy to discuss your needs.
I also specialise in offering doula services to women who have histories of child sexual abuse. Indeed, these days I only offer doula services to women who have been subjected to sexual violence.
Finally, I offer one-to-one sessions to anyone who would like to heal from the trauma of sexual violence, or narcissistic relationships.
If you are interested in exploring ways we could work together, please email me: hazel@traumarecovery.ie