ABOUT THE PROJECT
LOGLINE
The true story of a woman who suffered severe childhood trauma resulting in multiple personality disorder as seen on video from treatment sessions with the psychiatrist who helped her heal.
SYNOPSIS
SYLVIA THE WOOD NYMPH is the story of a child born into a highly dysfunctional family in rural Georgia. From the time she was an infant Sylvia suffered severe sexual abuse and neglect from her father, brother, uncle, aunt, and mother. She was not allowed inside the family home. She was left to fend for herself in the woods, naked and living off scraps of food left in a dog bowl on the family’s front porch. It was only when railroad workers spotted her wandering naked through the woods that she was saved from her situation and moved into foster care until the age of 12.
This long pattern of assault and neglect left Sylvia with a fractured sense of self and incompletely formed identity. Over time, she developed seven distinct personalities to help her cope with her past and dissociate from her painful memories and experiences.
In 1988, when Sylvia was 47 years old, a profound meeting took place in the offices of psychiatrist Timothy Brewerton, where the complex web of Sylvia’s mental state was revealed. Through several years of therapy, Dr. Brewerton was able to help Sylvia discover all the collective parts of her identity and integrate them together as one, resulting in a full recovery.
PROJECT TYPE Documentary Feature
DIRECTOR Robyn Hussa Farrell and Tim Farrell
PRODUCER Robyn Hussa Farrell and Timothy Farrell
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Timothy Brewerton, MD
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Louise Fagan
WEBSITE whiteelephantenterprises.com/sylvia-the-wood-nymph
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