Beth's Therapy Interview: Childhood Abuse and Threats to Her Family

Are people afraid of you, Beth? Uh-huh. Who's afraid of you, Beth?

John. Your brother. And what is your brother-- Why is your brother afraid of you?

'Cause I hurt him so much. Mm-hmm. Okay.

And what, at nighttime, what do your parents do to your door?

Lock it shut. Mm, why do they lock it shut?

'Cause they don't want me to hurt John. Right. And they're kind of afraid of- Hurt John ... of hurting John, of you hurting John?

Mm-hmm. Okay. Are they afraid that you might hurt them?

Yep. Would you, Beth? Mm-hmm. When would you do it?

Nighttime. Okay. Why would you do nighttime?

Because I don't like them seeing me do it, but they can feel me do it.

Mm-hmm. And what would you do to him, Beth?

Stab him. Okay. What would you stab him with?

A knife. The program you are about to see was compiled from the actual therapy tapes of Dr. Ken McGidd, a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of severely abused children, children so traumatized in the first years of life that they do not bond with other people.

They are children who cannot love or accept love, children without conscience, who can hurt or even kill without remorse.

This film shows the devastating effects of abuse on a child.

It also shows that victims can be helped.

It is the story of a six-and-a-half-year-old girl named Beth.

Do you ever stick pins in people? Mm-hmm.

Who? My brother. Okay. Do you do it a little bit or a lot?

A lot. Okay. And what are you trying to do to your brother?

Kill him. Why do you want your brother to die?

Because I was hurt so bad, and I don't want to be around people.

Okay. Who else would you like to stick pins into?

Mommy and Daddy. What would you like to have happen to them?

Die.