About Me

My name is Matt Penn.

For most of my life, I carried secrets that I never thought I would speak about publicly. Like many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, I spent years trying to survive the impact of what had happened to me. The shame, the silence, the confusion, and the belief that nobody would understand became part of my everyday life.

For a long time, I coped in unhealthy ways. Addiction became my escape. I spent years running from pain I didn't know how to face.

Today, I am proud to be over six years sober.

Recovery gave me something I never thought I would have: a voice.

Since getting sober, I have written a bestselling book, built The Recovery Initiative, spoken publicly about my experiences, and worked within mental health services supporting people on their own recovery journeys.

But the work that matters most to me is advocacy.

I created this platform because I know how isolating it can feel to carry abuse in silence. I know what it is like to believe you are the only one. I know how difficult it can be to ask for help.

My mission is not to be a therapist or counsellor.

My mission is to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and make it easier for survivors to reach out for support by showing them they are not alone.

Through writing, speaking, media appearances, and sharing my story, I hope to help create a world where survivors are believed, supported, and able to speak without shame.

If sharing my story helps just one person realise that what happened to them was not their fault, then every difficult conversation has been worth it.

Thank you for being here.

Matt Penn