Former BBC News presenter Kate Silverton has opened up about her profound journey of healing after being a victim of sexual abuse as a child. The 55-year-old broadcaster revealed she has learned to communicate with her inner child and has successfully 'recovered' parts of herself that were lost due to the trauma.
Therapeutic Transformation
Speaking candidly on the Music & Meditation Podcast on Radio 3 Unwind, Silverton humorously noted she has undergone 'about 200 years of therapy' and now experiences herself as having a 'little family' of selves within her. This internal framework helps her manage anxiety and nervousness in challenging situations.
'I consider that I have a little family within me,' Silverton explained. 'And if I'm scared or anxious—like when I'm going out on stage and feeling nervous—I'll find a quiet place and check in with all the parts of myself that I've now recognized.'
Managing Anxiety Through Internal Dialogue
The former journalist described how different aspects of her personality emerge to support her. 'If I'm doing a big event and I'm really nervous, my teenage self might come in. And my teenage self will say 'I've got this mum' and I'll feel great, knowing I'm going to be fine.'
Silverton first disclosed her experience of childhood sexual abuse in 2024, revealing it had taken her 'five decades' to release what she called the 'dark weight of shame' associated with the trauma.
Understanding Psychological Splitting
Now working as a child therapist after leaving journalism, Silverton explained the psychological concept of 'splitting'—a term coined by psychoanalyst Melanie Klein to describe how traumatized individuals may exile hurt parts of themselves.
'As a child I experienced significant and complex trauma,' Silverton shared. 'What can happen when people face difficulty in their early years is that the part of us that was really hurt—whether physically or emotionally—gets sort of exiled. This is where many mental health problems can develop because we're ignoring a deeply hurt part of ourselves.'
Reconnecting with the Inner Child
The therapeutic process involves what Silverton calls 'recovering' these exiled parts. 'We want to bring that part of ourselves in and recover, saying 'Actually I'm really sorry that I've kept you at bay for so long. That I've kept you in exile.' Suddenly everything softens, and I can literally talk to that little part of me, that 3-year-old, and say 'It's ok, I've got you… You're safe.''
Addressing Childhood Self-Blame
In a previous essay for The Telegraph, Silverton addressed how children often blame themselves when they experience abuse. Her commentary came as she reflected on the case of Huw Edwards, who was convicted in 2024 for possessing indecent images of children.
'Young children are not cognitively or emotionally equipped to make sense of what is happening to them,' Silverton wrote. 'Their brain development hasn't reached the stage where their rational brain can give adequate meaning to what has happened. Even as adults, how many of us can?'
She continued: 'So children are left with horrendous confusion, grave terror, pain, shock, betrayal, and an enormous sense that something wrong has happened. Ultimately they may conclude there is something wrong with them.'
A Message of Solidarity
Silverton offered words of support to fellow survivors: 'If you have been the victim of sexual abuse as a child, I see you and I stand with you. I want you to know that in taking the brave step of reaching out for support, we can come through. And remember, the shame is not, and never was, ours.'
Since sharing her experience, Silverton has received numerous messages from people sharing their own stories, many revealing how shame influenced their behavior and decision-making throughout their lives.
Career Transformation
The former news presenter, who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, made a significant career change after obtaining a degree in child psychology. She is now a qualified child counsellor, applying her journalistic skills to therapeutic work.
'My dad changed his career a lot,' Silverton said of her transition. 'He went from lorry driver to cab driver to locksmith to hypnotherapist, so I’ve never been afraid to do it. I’ve always wanted to tell people’s stories.'
She reflected on her early career experiences: 'When I was 19 I volunteered with Operation Raleigh in Zimbabwe, carrying a Dictaphone everywhere. I lived on a kibbutz in Israel and went into Palestinian territories to interview people. In my first news job, I begged to cover the Iraq war. I want to get under the skin and tell the story, whether it’s Afghanistan, Iraq or the work I do with children. It’s the same thing, I’m just doing it in a different way.'
Personal Life
Silverton met her husband, Mike Heron, an ex-marine, during one of his war-zone training courses. The couple married in 2010 and have two children: daughter Clemency and son Wilbur.
