The book “Nemi kriki spolne zlorabe in novo upanje” (The Silent Cries of Sexual Abuse and a New Hope) is a much-needed work that Slovenia has been waiting for (and lacking painfully) for a long, long time. The author tackled a topic that is not only extremely important for the general public, but is a first-class contribution to the understanding of why sexual abuse occurs and what the dynamics of this trauma are. Yes, this is a topic that has been addressed by numerous authors before her, but no one has ever done it in such an ingenious and complex way, as her work provides an essential connection/integration between psychology and other sciences, such as biology, medicine and anthropology.

Furthermore, the treatment of sexual abuse is greatly illuminated in the context of relational family psychotherapy, which deeply and intensively resolves and addresses the plight of persons who have experienced this traumatic event. ance and disgust, which, among other things, certainly indicates that – merely by reading about this experience – the reader has felt some of the feelings that have to be carried by those who have been sexually abused. For someone constantly living amidst all of these horrors, the world often feels an unsafe, uncontrollable and unpredictable place. This is why this book can help clarify what is happening in the world of traumatized individuals and what these people have to face and deal with on a daily basis. In this context it is thus highly important that the author also clearly addresses some general social misconceptions which many times further stigmatize innocent victims.

In addition to everything else, the book by dr. Tanja Repič is also extraordinarily valuable due to the specific examples and first-hand experience as narrated by victims themselves; and it is marvellous how she manages to bring forth a new hope, which is absolutely necessary in order for a person to be able to persist on the path to resolving the traumatic event of sexual abuse.