Sexual Abuse: The Silent Epidemic with Author Cindy Benezra

1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States experience sexual abuse. 91% of child sexual abuse is by someone who is known and trusted by the child or their family. That means every 9 minutes a child is a victim of sexual abuse.  With these numbers, it is apparent that sexual abuse is a silent epidemic. While discussion and intervention for prevention have increased over the years, there remains a stigma and silence around the topic of sexual abuse.  Today’s special guest, Cindy Benezra, is one of those statistics. She was sexually abused for years as a very young child by her father. Through a remarkable journey that she has shared in her memoir, Under the Orange Blossoms, Cindy has found healing and hope. Her mission is to be a voice to normalize speaking up and speaking out about sexual abuse and give hope to others that their story matters and healing is possible.  Cindy is the founder of CindyTalks™, a platform where she discusses healing tools and stories of hope for other trauma survivors and the general public. She is also the co-founder of a luxury event company, where she spends much of her time creating beautiful spaces for some of the most important events in people’s lives. Currently, Cindy and her husband reside in Seattle, Washington, and are parents of four adult children.