The rise of a mental therapist : Edna Freeman? Edna Freeman is an American mental health advocate and mother who has overcome childhood trauma in her own life and is passionate about ensuring today’s children don’t need to suffer without early intervention. Edna uses her story of overcoming traumatic childhood abuse to show others that they are not alone and that there is no shame in asking for help.
What is your process for helping young children and teens confront and overcome trauma? The goal is to guide them to the right organizations, medical professionals and sharing my story. I feel that some people tend to see mental illnesses as a taboo or something made up. I want the voices and needs of people and kids with mental illness to be heard. I want them to understand and learn to be gentle with themselves. Parents are also learning to be parents, so yes, a parent can cause trauma on their kids. One scenario is by bringing their own traumas to their kids.
Is it ever too early or too late in someone’s life to confront and overcome trauma with therapy? There is not too early to confront it, but the older you get it gets harder to treat it. But it is never to late to get help. I got help later in life, and I am very thankful that I did, even though I wish I got help earlier.
Edna Freeman is a Brazilian survivor of abuse during childhood and adolescence, and currently uses her personal experience to help children and adults who are experiencing this type of situation. She is a mother of two and currently lives in San Francisco, United States, with her family. It is incredible to see the amount of dedication she has to help those who are going through all these problems and need someone who knows how to deal with each particular case. Edna is currently working on setting up her own organization that will help treat children and adolescents who have suffered abuse and trauma.
The Brazilian’s husband works as a DJ once a month and this helped her to meet several famous people, both Brazilians and foreigners, besides having contact with someone who works bringing famous Brazilians to the United States. Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Jorge Aragão, Jarvis Cocker, Sherilyn Fenn, Brent Spiner, Matt Ross, Delroy Lindo, Gaz and Nick Cave are some of these famous Brazilians and foreigners. Edna has also done several works in advertising, but her biggest highlight is as a poster girl at Sutter Health hospital and with her face is printed on buses, billboards and subway stations.
“I often say that this publicity action opened doors and opened windows. Not to mention the friendships I made with the actors who played my husband and my son.” With overwhelming success, Edna has been starring in uninterrupted campaigns, but still has her image tied to Sutter Health. Asked about the value of the fee, she replied smiling: “It was better than I imagined, but this is a secret”.
