is a vivid and captivating story of hope for survivors of abuse as well as a case study of a skilled manipulator’s tragic exploitation of his professional power.
A beautiful and evocative account of how a client feels on the other end of the so-called slippery slope, the receiving end of egregious sexual exploitation. In this book, Carrie Ishee makes the path intelligible and sympathetic without recourse to angry polemics or victimology. You will hand your heart over to her and thank her for your deepened understanding of this terrain and for the knowledge that there but for the grace ….
-Andrea Celenza, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School, Author, Sexual Boundary Violations: Therapeutic, Supervisory, & Academic Contexts
In Seduced into Darkness: Transcending My Psychiatrist’s Sexual Abuse, Carrie Ishee gives us a moving and powerful account of sexual abuse by her “healer,” as well as a psychologically astute description of her own process of fighting back and recovering. In her willingness to speak out, she offers a gift of compassion and hope to all who suffer from authority abuse.
—Peter Rutter, MD Psychiatrist, and Author of “Sex in the Forbidden Zone”
I was stunned when Carrie—one of the most positive, optimistic, and creative people I’ve known—shared this dark and twisted story of her past with me. It is a testament to her intelligence and resilience that she not only pursued justice but also used this searing life experience for her own and others’ positive growth.
—Valerie Plame, Author of “Fair Game”
This award winning memoir chronicles the traumatic psychological abduction and sexual exploitation of depressed college student Carrie Tansey at the hands of her psychiatrist, Dr. Anthony Romano, thirty-one years her senior. For three years, their secret “affair” was carefully calculated and controlled by Romano, as Carrie’s mental and emotional health continued to deteriorate, bringing her closer and closer to the edge. Their dual relationship finally came to light when Carrie’s suicide attempts landed her in a world-renowned psychiatric hospital.
Gradually, she found her voice through art, music, myth, social advocacy, and the force of the law to reclaim her power, heal her trauma, and hold her abusive doctor accountable.
Her mission is to inform the public of such abuses of power, share how our deepest traumas can initiate us into accelerated growth, meaning, and purpose, and inspire others to embark on the healing journey and become their best selves.
As Carrie tells her tale, her journey parallels that of the mythical archetype Persephone, the naive innocent who was abducted into darkness, re-emerged and regenerated herself, then fearlessly returned to the prison she had fled, this time to help free others.
First Place, Non-fiction Book for Adult Readers- Memoir - National Federation of Press Women
First Place, Non-fiction Book for Adult Readers- Memoir - New Mexico Press Women
Finalist in NM/AZ Book Awards (2021).
Carrie T. Ishee, M.A., LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, PCC
Carrie T. Ishee is a licensed professional clinical counselor, board certified licensed art therapist, professional certified coach, speaker, and award winning author with a private practice in Santa Fe, NM. She specializes in somatic-based creative expressive approaches to healing.
Over a period of ten years, Carrie served as an adjunct faculty member at Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM. The classes she taught included “Art Therapy in the Assessment and Treatment of Addictions”, “Art Therapy Techniques”, and “Internship Seminar”.
Earlier in her career she studied Clinical Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University with a focus in Behavioral Medicine. She held clinical and research assistant positions at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital in the Department of Behavioral Pediatrics (Kennedy Institute), the University of Maryland Hospital Intensive Behavioral Management Program, and in the Department of Orthognathic Surgery at the Medical College of Virginia.
Carrie’s therapeutic work embraces a holistic paradigm recognizing body, mind and spirit in the healing process and focuses on helping clients restore healthy nervous system functioning after traumas and losses.
Her clinical specialties include trauma, substance abuse, sex and love addictions, mood disorders, anxiety, relationship issues, and adjustment disorders. She has worked in inpatient, intensive outpatient, and private practice settings. Drawing on her background as both a therapist and life coach, she trained first responders in stress management and life balance skills for both the City of Santa Fe and the State of New Mexico.
Her own experience of healing from soul shattering trauma as documented in Seduced into Darkness: Transcending My Psychiatrist’s Sexual Abuse (which won first place for memoir from the National Federation of Press Women) allows her to hold the sacred space and trust in the process of transformation.
Carrie feels honored to be a voice for hope and healing and is dedicated to informing the public about mental health, treatment options, overcoming abuse, and the great potential there is for transforming trauma through her authentic speaking engagements and course offerings.
When not engaged in her profession, Carrie enjoys mothering, creating abstract images, singing with her husband, hiking with her miniature dachshunds, and immersing herself in the beauty of nature.
Speaking with the voice of a wounded healer, Carrie shares her story and offers embodied, creative, transformational experiences that help audiences:
Access the Wisdom of Your Body for Healing
Find Your Voice
Deepen Your Authentic Presence
Awaken Your Soul by Claiming Opportunities for Initiation
