Appearing on 'Piers Morgan Tonight' (Weeknights, 9PM ET on CNN), Cheryl Burke, of 'Dancing With The Stars,' detailed her traumatic childhood, which included being sexually assaulted by her baby-sitter at the age of five. As a result of that experience, Burke suffered from low self-esteem and become involved in a succession of abusive romantic relationships.

Her last high school boyfriend was physically abusive to the point of whipping her with his belt. Yet it wasn't until her professional dancing career began to take off that the California native was able to muster up the courage to leave him.

"My dancing, just being called from New York," was what Burke said finally allowed her to free herself from her abuser. "A great opportunity for me happened, and I left ... and never came back."

Burke told Morgan she is "still healing" from her earlier traumas and has trouble trusting men. But she believes that, with the help of therapy, she is now dealing with her issues.