About the Author, Annette L.Becklund
A Word from the Author
Therapists are not fans of self-disclosure. Though we can be very friendly people, we can't be everyone's friend. We have to maintain some professional distance. That is the way we are trained. I have been a therapist for over 20 years specializing in Autism and unique ways of being. I have always loved what I do. But, something new happened to me personally in 2018. I took a recreational DNA test (for fun and cultural exploration) and found out my dad was not my biological father. You can only imagine how traumatizing that was for me. I did not realize it at the time because, to be honest, I was numb. Being numb to my own feelings is indeed a trauma response.
In 2019, I decided to blog about my experiences. I have always loved to write and I have kept a journal throughout my life. I had writing groups in my private practice for years and knew the benefits of having people write their feelings and experiences. It is downright cathartic. During my early blogging stages, I used a pseudonym in order to protect my clients, I thought. The website AncestryDiscoveries.com will be changing shortly and people will know my real name. What I was really doing was protecting myself. Perhaps I was owning the shame and secrets that were part of my own forbearance that I worked so hard to liberate myself from. My pseudonym and main character's name is Alexandra A. Barrie. Alexandra was my mom's official name, Barry was my biological father's name, and the A. in the middle is the person in the middle of all of this, me, Annette. Since I changed all the names to protect the innocent and guilty parties, I decided the main character would keep that name. I kinda like it!
Now if we have worked together professionally and I was your therapist at any time, you need to know that several months ago, I decided to publish this book under my own name. The need to protect you was replaced with the need to encourage you to tell your story. I decided it was time to own every bit of what happened to me. What was I afraid of, after all? I am as human as the next person and perhaps my story will help someone else and serve as a survival guide. I am hoping to set an example to own what happens to you and to feel that fear and tell your story anyway. It is extremly liberating. I can't expect you to do that if I don't do it first. That was always my promise to my clients, that I would not put them through anything I did not do first.
I do have autographed copies for sale and you can contact me through this website (or call and say hi and let me know how you are doing). Thank you for reading all of this. I carry you with me, in my heart, wherever I go.
Warmly,
Annette
Autographed Copy Available
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