When The Monster was Family

Most people imagine abuse as something that happens in dark, distant places. But in reality, it often happens at home—by someone the child knows, someone the family trusts. In this episode of The Shadow Sessions, Hiba Balfaqih speaks with Tracey, whose life changed the moment her daughter spoke up. Faced with a reality many struggle to accept, Tracey made a choice that defines this story—she immediately believed her child. What followed was confrontation, action, and a fight to protect her children from further harm. But this conversation goes beyond that moment. It explores the psychological aftermath—the guilt, the questions, and the painful process of reexamining what was once trusted. This episode examines abuse not just as an act, but as a rupture inside families and relationships. It asks what it means to seek justice when healing is ongoing, and what it takes to face betrayal when it comes from within your own home. This is a story about protection, accountability, and the long-echoing trauma that leaves behind.