Journey of recovery and healing Journey of recovery and healing
Find your voice
More than an author, I am a survivor, who wishes to be a guide, and a beacon of hope. Growing up as one of eight children, my life was marked by profound challenges, including surviving sexual abuse at multiple stages of my life. For years, I carried the weight of this trauma in silence, navigating the complex emotions of shame, fear, and sorrow that so many survivors know intimately.
But within that silence, a powerful desire grew—a desire to heal, to understand, and to connect with others who felt just as isolated by their experiences. This calling led me to start a podcast, to share my truth, and ultimately, to write Unsilenced.
When I’m not writing, I find peace and joy in traveling, spending time with my children and our pets, and appreciating the beauty of all four seasons in Northern Virginia. My life’s work centers on growth, resilience, and helping others discover their own path toward a peaceful and happy life.
Patricia O. Larsen
About the book
UnSilenced is a reminder that you are not alone in your experiences. It is proof that your past does not have to define your future. Patricia’s journey from a victim who felt like an “object” to an empowered woman who found her voice is a powerful narrative of transformation. She writes to reassure you, to stand with you, and to show you that a better, happier, and more peaceful life is not just a distant dream—it is an achievable reality.
Reviews
Blanca
UnSilenced is a courageous and inspiring memoir. Patricia shares her painful experiences of abuse and assault with honesty, vulnerability, and strength. It's not only moving but also deeply inspiring - offering hope, healing, and empowerment to others who may be struggling in silence. A must-read for anyone who believes in resilience and the power of the human spirit.
Ana
I've never read a book that made me want to drop everything just to keep reading. It's well written and deeply reflective of how much humans can endure in life. It shows how quickly we judge others without truly knowing what's inside, and how, behind someone who might seem strong (or even harsh) there can be a tender soul quietly fighting their own battles. We all cross paths with people carrying invisible battles and their battles also have a domino effect on those close to them; effect that also seemed forgotten. My hope is that we choose empathy over judgment, patience over frustration, understanding over being brutally honest and kindness over indifference. It is a work in progress that is revealed by actions. Because in the end, we don't just make others' lives lighter, we make our own hearts stronger too.
Rebecca
UnSilenced is more than a book… it is a companion, a conversation, and at times, a hand to hold. Written with remarkable clarity and compassion, this guide to surviving and healing from sexual assault feels like sitting face-to-face with someone who truly understands the long, complicated road to recovery.
Rather than speaking at survivors, she speaks with them. She shares her stories, and the authentic, sometimes complex feelings about her abusers. In doing so, she creates a sense of safety and connection that is often missing from more clinical trauma literature.
What sets UnSilenced apart is the breadth of healing modalities it explores. It acknowledges that trauma is not one-size-fits-all, and neither is recovery. The book moves fluidly between traditional approaches like therapy, support groups, grounding techniques, and holistic and alternative practices such as animal therapy, EMDR, breathwork, journaling, yoga, and creative expression.
UnSilenced would be an invaluable resource for survivors at any stage of healing, as well as for those who support them: friends, partners, therapists, and advocates. Larsen’s writing reminds readers that they are not alone, and that even in the darkest chapters of life, possibility and hope remain.
Carmen
As Patricia's older sister, I had no idea about the childhood sexual abuse she survived until I read "UnSilenced." The discovery brought waves of shock, sadness, and profound admiration for her courage in finally sharing her story. What strikes me most is her honesty and incredible strength. My loving sister doesn't just tell her story-she opens a window into the hidden pain that so many carry in silence. Her book reminds us that behaviors we don't understand often stem from traumas we know nothing about, we need to offer empathy and understanding. "UnSilenced" is for survivors who need to know they're not alone and shouldn't have to hide. It's for family members like me, learning to see our loved ones with new compassion. And it's for anyone who wants to create a world where survivors are supported, believed, and heard. My sister's bravery in breaking decades of silence is a gift to us all. This book offers hope, awareness, and a powerful call for compassion. I'm proud of her beyond words.
Patrick
Raw heartfelt moments that are completely shocking, sad, and uncomfortable. I felt every emotion while thinking about my own healing journey of abuse. I can’t fathom how this could happen to such a lovely/nice person. Total bravery and courages to share!!
Adam Smith
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Preface
I will tell you all that I can remember about my trauma because I want survivors of sexual abuse to know that they are not alone in their pain, agony, and experiences.
It is important for them to know that our lives can be much better than we ever imagined, and that the darkness we endure will eventually come to an end if we put on the work needed to find the happiness and peace we crave.
A couple of years ago I started a podcast, without really knowing how to create one, but I felt a powerful desire to help others who might feel as lonely as I did with my abuse history. For so many years I kept silent about my pain, shame, fear, and sorrow. I carried that burden far too long. I wish that I had let it all out earlier, sought therapy sooner, and shared my experiences more openly. I do not want any young people to carry that silence in.
I believe, no, I know, that the earlier someone begins to let go of the devastating effects of the trauma, the sooner they can reach their potential. You will feel safer, happier, freer, and loved. We all deserve good things in our lives. We can feel better and happier by working on our challenges, whether big or small. It is incredibly difficult to navigate what happened to us, but we must get to work to begin a new chapter, to achieve the life we deserve.
As I write this true-life memoir, I am still figuring out the steps to publish it. However, my intention remains the same: to be with you and reassure you that you are not alone on your path to recovery.
The words in this book may be tough to read at times, but I hope they can also be inspiring. Some parts may evoke sadness because they could resonate with your own experiences, and that is okay; we can all benefit from grieving our losses. Above all, I hope that these words will serve and support you.