Elizabeth Smart ‘didn’t want to see a therapist’ after her nine-month kidnapping ordeal

Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart, 33, reveals she NEVER had therapy after nine-month ordeal as a teen which saw her tied up ‘like an animal’ and repeatedly raped – but urges others to see help as a ‘sign of strength’

  • Smart, 33, was kidnapped in June 2002 in Salt Lake City and raped daily 
  • Was rescued nine months later in March 2003 but ‘didn’t want to see  therapist’ 
  • Her captor Brian David Mitchell is serving a life sentence in prison 
  • His wife Wanda Barzee was released from prison in September 2018 


Elizabeth Smart has revealed she ‘didn’t want to see a therapist’ after her traumatic ordeal as a teenager in which she was kidnapped, tied up ‘like an animal’ and repeatedly raped.

The 33-year-old made headlines in June 2002 when she was abducted at knifepoint from her family’s Salt Lake City home when she was just 14 by handyman Brian David Mitchell. She was rescued nine months later in March 2003 after two witnesses recognized her abductors.  

Since then, the married mother-of-three has devoted her life to advocacy against child abduction and sexual violence and has recently taken to Instagram for World Mental Health Day 2021.

In the poignant post, Smart detailed her struggle to come to terms with the seriousness of her trauma and urged others to seek help – adding that accepting it is ‘not weak’ or ‘something to be ashamed of’ and is instead a ‘sign of strength.’

Elizabeth Smart has revealed she ‘didn’t want to see a therapist’ after her traumatic ordeal as a teenager in which she was kidnapped, tied up ‘like an animal’ and repeatedly raped. Pictured, giving an inspirational keynote on Overcoming Adversity RILA supply chain conference, Phoenix on 26 February 2018

Smart's captor, Brian David Mitchell, was convicted in 2010 and is serving a life sentence.

In 2010 Wanda Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in prison and in the plea deal was given credit for the seven years she already served. She was released from prison in September 2018 and now lives in the same town as Smart, despite Smart's pleas to the parole board not to set her free.

Smart’s captor, Brian David Mitchell (left), was convicted in 2010 and is serving a life sentence. In 2010 Wanda Barzee (right) was sentenced to 15 years in prison and in the plea deal was given credit for the seven years she already served. She was released from prison in September 2018 and now lives in the same town as Smart, despite Smart’s pleas to the parole board not to set her free

She penned: ‘After I was rescued from my captors I didn’t want to see a therapist or a counsellor or a doctor. My parents were incredibly worried about me and sought guidance themselves.

‘They were told the best thing they could do was to take care of themselves so they could be in a place to help me when I was ready to start talking and processing my emotions.’

Smart went on to brand this advice ‘monumental’ – adding that it’s a ‘perfect reason for everyone to take their mental/emotional/physical health seriously.’

She continued: ‘There will come a day when someone turns to you for help, and if you haven’t been taking care of yourself and your health you may not be in a position to help others when they truly need it.’ 

‘Don’t give up, keep trying, and believe in miracles.’

In the poignant post, Smart detailed her struggle to come to terms with the seriousness of her trauma and urged others to seek help - adding that accepting it is 'not weak' or 'something to be ashamed of' and is instead a ' sign of strength' (pictured)

In the poignant post, Smart detailed her struggle to come to terms with the seriousness of her trauma and urged others to seek help – adding that accepting it is ‘not weak’ or ‘something to be ashamed of’ and is instead a ‘ sign of strength’ (pictured)

Ed Smart (L) holds a thumbs up as he stands with his daughter Elizabeth Smart (C) and wife Lois at the Rose Garden of the White House April 30, 2003 in Washington

Ed Smart (L) holds a thumbs up as he stands with his daughter Elizabeth Smart (C) and wife Lois at the Rose Garden of the White House April 30, 2003 in Washington

In her abduction Mitchell, a once homeless preacher and self-proclaimed prophet, and his wife Wanda Barzee kept Smart chained down in a makeshift campsite near her home before moving her to Lakeside, California. 

In 2009 she testified in court how she was drugged, tied to a tree and raped daily – as often as four times a day.  

Smart was 14 years old when she was kidnapped from her Utah home and held in captivity for nine months

Smart was 14 years old when she was kidnapped from her Utah home and held in captivity for nine months

Smart’s captor, Brian David Mitchell, was convicted in 2010 and is serving a life sentence.  

In 2010 Wanda Barzee was sentenced to 15 years in prison and in the plea deal was given credit for the seven years she already served. 

She was released from prison in September 2018 and now lives in the same town as Smart, despite Smart’s pleas to the parole board not to set her free. 

In August 2019 Smart’s father Ed Smart announced he is gay and would be divorcing his wife and leaving the Mormon Church, where he was a devout member for years. 

Ed grew up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was married for more than three decades to wife Lois, with whom he has six children. 

Smart co-wrote a memoir entitled My Story in 2013 recounting her experience and in 2018 she published another book entitled ‘Where There’s Hope: Healing, Moving Forward and Never Giving Up’.  

In Smart’s dedication to fighting against child abduction she also starred in a new Lifetime show that debuted last year entitled Elizabeth Smart: Finding Justice in which she helped other victims of kidnapping, sex trafficking and abuse find their way to healing and rebuilding their lives. 



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