BAR logo jpg 7-12Listen here Are you ready to be known and loved?  Is it time to move from mere survival of childhood trauma into a thriving life?  Beyond Abuse Radio is a safe place to find healing and wholeness and embrace your own beauty.  Overcoming trauma is not easy, but it is absolutely possible, and you don’t have to do it alone! I invite you to join me each week to learn about tools for healing and receive the resources and encouragement you need on your journey into wholeness.  Over 1,000 people are being inspired weekly to live empowered lives as they transform their trauma into beauty. Look for Beyond Abuse Radio every second Thursday at 7:30 pm, PST, on Blog Talk Radio.  You can also listen to the show archives at your convenience or download episodes as pod casts from iTunes.  Click here to go to our Facebook page then hit the “like” button to get updates on your home feed about upcoming shows, guests, special resources and web-links available to listeners. I look forward to our journey together!

What others are saying about Beyond Abuse Radio:

I was introduced to your podcast by one of my colleagues, a fellow psychotherapist.  She found your episodes on “Healing the Inner Child” series very useful for parts work.  She encouraged me to listen to it because she thought I would appreciate the Christian framework with trauma survivors. 

I have been so blessed and encouraged by the work that you have been doing.  I have listened to several of them. Spirituality and Sexuality, Self image, Talking to Children About Sex, Inner Child, Addictions, etc. and I have thoroughly enjoyed them. I have found your podcast to be thoughtful, engaging, with experienced guests coupled with your great questions and warm and caring presence that offers hope and redemption.  I have already recommended and forwarded your podcasts to colleagues as well as women in my small group.  🙂

 It can be a challenge to find talks that are well balanced, both from a mental health perspective as well as a Christian perspective. I find your podcast does a good job with that.:) 

Thank you again for your ministry of healing and hope!

Alice, LICSW

Misa hosts a weekly radio blog called Beyond Abuse Radio.  Misa does her live streaming blog where she interviews experts on the cutting edge of trauma recovery …  Misa’s soft spoken manner is certainly a comfort for her listeners because it put us at ease right away. Her sweet spirit comes across so clearly as she led heart felt discussions about the struggles so many of us have endured and the burdens carried through much of life…We are so encouraged that so many can benefit and have their healing process enhanced by Beyond Abuse Radio.  Thanks Misa for listening to your heart so you can be providing so much for all of us !!”        —Matt and Fawn Bradley of Beatitude House

Tentative Upcoming Schedule:

Spiritual Tools for Trauma Healing, Part 1- Asking the Question:      Where was God?

wherewasgod-title1

Thursday, March 19 2015

Misa Leonessa

Spiritual issues come up for everyone as they heal from trauma.  To divorce one’s spiritual questions from the healing process leaves survivors with huge gaps in their recovery.  One of the things most survivors ask at some point is “Where was God?” and, rightfully so.  IF God is real and all powerful and you believe in the idea of a good and loving God, WHERE was He when you were being abused?  It is a question worth asking and one that deserves some honest conversation.  Join host, transformation coach, spiritual director, and thriving survivor,  Misa Leonessa as she shares about finding God in the midst of trauma healing.

Listen here

Some of the shows currently available in the archives:

Healing for Wives of Sexually Addicted Men

addiction sex couple

 

Thursday, March 5 2015

Darrell Brazell

Loving someone who struggles with sexual addiction is painful.  How do you take care of yourself in the midst of this challenging situation?  Darrell Brazell is a pastor and recovering sex addict.   His youtube video called Apology to Women is an example of his poignant message.  Darrell says,  “Ladies, I am sorry that so many Christians and so many representing Jesus don’t understand the pain infidelity, in all its forms, brings to God’s children.  It isn’t your fault that he cheated, ever. Your mistakes never make his betrayal justifiable or even understandable. ”  Darrell’s words are sure to touch the deep places of your heart.

Listen here

Resources for wives of sexually addicted men and their husbands:
For wives:
Shattered Vows by Deborah Laaser
Beyond Betrayal workbooks by Diane Roberts available at www.puredesire.org
Marsha Means new workbook for women actually uses some of my stuff but for the life of me I can’t think of her name.
For men
New Hope For Sexual Integrity my manual www.newhope4si.com
Pure Desire by Ted Roberts
Healing the Wounds of Sexual Addiction by Mark Laaser
For Both
My “Neuro-Theology of Sex and Addiction” DVD teaching
MY “Protecting Eve” DVD seminar.  Both available at www.newhope4si.com
Helpful websites
Www.newhope4si.com (Lots of free audio resources)
Www.puredesire.org

Healing Addiction, Part 8: Kicking the Sugar Addiction

sugar

Thursday, February 5th, 2015

Patricia Adams

Can we REALLY get addicted to sugar, or is that just a euphemism?  How does sugar affect our minds and bodies?  Is it connected to emotional problems and mental illness?  With sugar being such a pervasive part of our culture, how do we kick the sugar habit?  Nutritionist and doctor of naturopathy, Patricia Adams, will be sharing her journey into physical and emotional health and help you on your path to find healing and wholeness. Listen here

Resources for sugar addiction:

Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter
Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis
Food, Inc. the movie
Food, Mood, and Body by Gary Null
Excitotoxins, the taste that kills by Dr. Russell Blaylock
Gut and Psychology Syndrome by Dr. Natasha McBride
Put Your Heart in Your Mouth by Dr. Natasha McBride
Sweet Death by Dr. Hugo Rodier
Sweet Deception by Dr. Joseph Mercola
You can reach Patricia Adams here:

Healing Addiction, Part 9: Relationship Addiction

relationshipAddiction

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Dr. Jean LaCour

Relationship addiction happens when one person invests themselves too deeply in another person’s life.  A lack of a strong personal identity and the need to please others can create obsessive patterns that keep you from creating healthy attachments to others.  Could there be an unconscious belief that you have the ability to do what you think others want or expect and that will earn you the love and acceptance that you desire?  Learn about the 7 traits of relationship addicts, the kind of boundary problems that occur in these relationships, and why the “disease to please” is both destructive and changeable!   Our special guest is Dr. Jean LaCour, a tireless advocate for people in recovery and founder of the RISE professional recovery coach program. Listen here

Healing Addiction, part 7- The High Cost of Addiction

Recovery of a lifetime

Thursday, Dec 18th, 2014

Mike Reis

Addiction costs over 500,000 annually.  The cost to families and individuals is incalculable.  Why are we, as individuals and as a society, willing to pay this kind of price to continue in the addictive patterns that flourish in our culture?  Addiction has nearly become an accepted way of life.  Are you willing to continue to pay the price for your addiction, or are you ready to do something different?  Listen to the story of Mike Reis, former sex addict and alcoholic, addiction recovery coach, author and speaker who believes that it is NEVER too late to become the person God intended you to be.  He knows.  He has lived it!

Listen here

Healing Addiction, part 6- Food Addiction

addiction food brain

Thursday, Dec 4th, 2014

Jim Wilder

Addictions are not just about chemicals and alcohol.  You can be addicted to just about anything.  Food addiction is a tough one to beat.  It’s not like you can just stop eating!  Comfort food is flagrantly flashed in front of you in about 50% of commercials.  Just about every celebration is accompanied by the smells and sights of high carb, low nutrition selections.  How do you learn to say no to this most acceptable of addictions?  First, says Dr. Jim Wilder, understand the unmet need behind the drive for food.  As we head into the holidays, arm yourself with a new perspective for the great food challenge.

Listen here

Food Addiction Quiz Yale Food Addiction Scale

Healing Addiction, part 5- Addiction and Joy

joy x 3 10-14

Thursday, Nov 6th, 2014

Ed Khouri #3

Who doesn’t want more joy in their life?  The fact is that low joy levels are the best indicator that someone is at high risk for an addictive lifestyle.  The higher your level of joy is, the less vulnerable you are to getting caught up in the addictive cycle.  Building the capacity for increased joy and the skills needed to live a joyful life are both possible.  Join us as Ed Khouri brings hope for healing from, and staying free from addiction in his third and last episode on the Healing Addiction series with Beyond Abuse Radio.

Listen here

Resources referred to on Addiction and Joy:

Joy Starts Here: http://www.joystartshere.com/

The Connexus Program: http://www.thrivingrecovery.org/

Eating Right to Live Sober: http://www.amazon.com/Eating-Right-Live-Sober-Signet/dp/0451156560

The Life Model Thrive Program: http://www.lifemodel.org/topic.php?rn=10

Life Skills International: http://www.lifeskillsintl.org/

Healing Addiction, part 4- Addiction and Attachment

attachment heart in hands 12-13

Thursday, Oct 23nd, 2014

Ed Khouri, #2

Relationships are the stuff of our deepest pain and joy.  They can leave gaping holes that cause great vulnerability to addiction, and they are also a large part of healing addictions.  Ed Khouri shares a fascinating piece of research that links trauma through early attachment problems to dopamine receptor density that affects the ability to regulate pain, pleasure, and emotions.  That sets the bar for the level of relational joy in people’s lives.  Propensity for addiction increases radically when relational joy is low.  What can be done to increase our joy bonds?  Lots!  Join Beyond Abuse Radio as we explore the connection between addiction and attachment and catch the hope for healing.

Listen here

 

Healing Addiction, part 3- Addiction and the Brain

addicted brain 9-14

Thursday, Oct 9th, 2014

Ed Khouri

Addiction changes the brain.  Getting free from addiction is a challenging process because it requires breaking deeply ingrained patterns of the brain and creating new ways of thinking, acting, and relating.  Ed Khouri, addiction specialist with The Life Model, will share the first steps to breaking addiction behavior, coming to terms with the cost of addiction, how addictions hijack the attachment center of the brain, and skills needed to increase the capacity of our brains to process the trauma that is often the underlying cause of addiction.  Ed’s work in addiction recovery led him to understand that BEEPS (Behaviors, Events, Experiences and Substances that help regulate emotions, reduce pain or increase pleasure) take over the attachment system in an attempt to replace relationships as the source of joy. By dealing with the force behind all addictions, Ed Khouri and the Thriving program allow people with many different forms of addiction or codependency to recover together.  Ed now works training people globally to help others become free of addiction and live in joyful community. Listen here

addiction way out 2-14

Healing Addiction, part 1- Child Sexual Abuse and Addiction

Thursday, Sept 11th, 2014

David Pittman

Sometimes the memories are too much to hold inside.  Sometimes the pain just gets too big.  Medicating our pain as survivors of child sexual abuse is one way to survive. But as long as we are addicted, we will never thrive.  Addiction kills relationships, careers, healing and spiritual growth.  Addiction takes the life out of us and returns the destruction of all we hold dear in exchange for killing the pain. David Pittman, director of Together We Heal, knows both the pain of abuse AND the pain of addiction.  And now he knows the joy of helping others get free from both. Listen here

Encouragement for the Journey

hope rising 6-13   Thursday, July 104, 2014 Misa Leonessa Do you have a hope that there can be more joy and love in your life? Are you ready to change the status quo? Does your heart long for something more and are you willing to sacrifice to get it? If the answer is yes, then you will want to hear this broadcast!  This show is all about encouraging you on your journey into wholeness.  We will be talking about what it is to make a commitment to the journey, how to walk into healing community, and trusting God for the process. Listen here

Healing the Inner Child- Part 10, Neurological Reorganization

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Fawn Bradley Do you struggle with “stuck” emotions?  Do you ask yourself, “Why did I do that?”  When we suffer trauma as children our brains are often unable to develop to their fullest potential.  Neurological Reorganization (NR) is a movement based therapy that creates efficient connections between the brain and various systems of the body to help people reach their highest potential.  NR uses the reflexes that we all have programmed into our brain (like an instruction manual that we are all born with) to allow our brains to relearn how to do what it needs to do.  We are able to improve brain/body function as we go back and retrace the normal developmental steps that healthy infants and children take.NR reorganizes the traumatized brain through developmental movement, sensory, and reflexive activities and addresses the root cause of many disorders and disabilities, bringing about higher level functioning.  Learn more about this fascinating tool from our guest, Fawn Bradley on Beyond Abuse Radio. Listen here

Healing the Inner Child- Part 9, Attachment Treatment

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Matt Bradley

Are the words “trust” and “vulnerability” on your DGT (Don’t Go There) list? Forming bonded relationships that bring joy is the most important skill in life, but one that is not imparted to many children.  Attachment problems result from abuse or neglect perpetrated consciously or through unavoidable circumstances. When parents do not attach in a healthy manner to their kids, problems develop.   The inability to form healthy, secure attachments causes disruptions to relationships that can last a lifetime if not treated. Attachment treatment done properly can help children and parents create loving, healing relationships and can even be used for adult trauma recovery.  Join Matt Bradley from Beatitude House as he shares about his work as an attachment therapist.  Listen here

Healing the Inner Child, Part 8: Internal Family Systems

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Mary Steege

Have you ever felt happy and sad at the same time? Wanted to do something and not wanted to in the same moment? If so, then you have experienced what Internal Family Systems calls the sub-personalities that we all have inside. Each has its own perspective, interests, memories and viewpoints, and sometimes they are in harmony but sometimes they conflict with one another. IFS believes that every “part” has an important role to play and can be productive and healthy. They can also take on extreme roles when traumatized. With love, acceptance, and some good communication between those parts, they can all come into healthy relationship inside ourselves. This episode will focus on how Internal Family Systems combined with Christian spirituality can bring deep healing. Our special guest, author, therapist, and pastor Mary Steege will be sharing how to do just that on Healing the Inner Child, Part 8. Thursday, June 12th 7:30 pm Pacific Time, or anytime after that to hear the archive! Listen here

Healing the Inner Child- Part 7: Share Immanuel

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Chris and Jen Coursey

In the difficult spaces of our childhood traumas, we often are disconnected from the awareness of God’s presence.  We may even think that He has abandoned us during those experiences.  It is then that we are most vulnerable to believing things that are not true about ourselves, others, God, and the world we live in.  Share Immanuel works as an incredibly effective means for healing and recovery as well as restoring peace for individuals, couples and families. It is based on the belief that God is always present with us and always has been. Most of our memories of life are incomplete because we lack the awareness of God’s presence and without this awareness our interpretations of our life are always distorted, bring pain and rob our peace.  Share Immanuel was developed from the works of Dr. Jim Wilder, Dr. Karl Lehman and a team of colleagues practicing this method to bring healing and joy for people around the world.  Our guests, Chris and Jen Coursey, will introduce Share Immanuel and highlight how it has changed their lives, family and ministry.  Listen here

Healing the Inner Child, Part 6:  EMDR

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Donni Miller

Can your brain heal itself?  The brain is created to naturally move towards mental health.  Sometimes a block or imbalance will be created by the impact of a traumatic experience and causes us great suffering.  Once that block is removed, however, healing naturally resumes.    EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a therapy that helps peoples to heal from the problems caused by trauma.  Studies show that by using this tool, people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference.  Using the specific procedures learned in EMDR training sessions, professionals are able to help clients activate their natural healing processes.  Join master therapist, Donni Miller as she shares about how EMDR works and whether it might be a good tool for your healing. Listen here

Healing the Inner Child- Part 5: Brain Skill Training

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Chris and Jen Coursey What brain skills did you miss out on learning as a child?  In a healthy family our brains receive training to provide the full range of ability to deal with life’s experiences.  In the midst of a traumatic childhood, these skills are often not passed along from a parent or caregiver.  When we suffer from arrested development due to childhood trauma there is great hope to still learn those skills!  Careful study of how the brain is trained led Chris and Jen Coursey to 19 brain-based relational skills that we all can learn later in life with practice and training from others who already have the skills. As we learn these skills we are able to help our wounded inner child heal and experience healthy ways of relating to God, ourselves, and others.  Join Misa Leonessa with guests Chris and Jen on Beyond Abuse Radio and be encouraged on your healing journey! For a sneak preview, see all nineteen skills here:   http://www.thrivetoday.org/nineteenskills.html Listen here

 Healing the Inner Child- Part 4:  Integrating Our Fragmented Pieces

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Juanita Ryan

Have you ever noticed that you can feel angry and rejecting towards yourself and yet have compassion for yourself all within the same 10 minutes?  How can we have such opposing thoughts.  If you were traumatized as a child, it is likely that you have wounded parts, judgmental parts, and compassionate parts, all held in the same brain.  That is exactly what therapist and recovery expert, Juanita Ryan says.  Juanita will be sharing how to take ownership of ALL of our parts and learn to give them each their voice, teach them to receive love, and heal the core wounds of our inner child.  Listen here

Healing the Inner Child- Part 3: Theophostic Prayer Ministry

Thursday, April 3, 2014

How do you root out the lies that were planted in your head when you were traumatized as a child?  Most of us come to believe things that are not true about ourselves in the midst of childhood trauma and then carry that belief unconsciously, perhaps for the rest of our lives.  That belief is what creates triggers that sabotage us in our relationships, make us vulnerable to addictions and self-harm, and keep us from thriving in life.  What would you say if I told you there is a fast and effective way to get to the root of those beliefs and replace them with the truth that brings enduring healing?  That is just what I will be sharing on Thursday, April 3 as we talk about using Theophostic Prayer Ministry as a tool for trauma healing. Listen here

Healing the Inner Child- Part 2

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Mike Garner and Crystal Walker Can we heal our inner child by talking directly to him or her? That might seem like a crazy idea, but that is just what guest Mike Garner is going to demonstrate on this show! Through his work with clients around the world, Mike has developed a method to help people find wholeness. Through his ATTTTA steps he will work with someone in a role play on the air. Learn more about developing a relationship within yourself with those inner kids who need a safe place to share the memories they hold and express their emotions in healthy ways so they no longer control your interactions with others. Listen here

Healing the Inner Child, Part 1

Thursday, March 13, 2014 

Mike Garner

What is an inner child, anyway, and why would we need to heal it?  Everyone experiences some degree of inner separation and disunity.  The more trauma a child endures and the more sensitive the child, the greater the degree of disassociation.  Those parts of us that split off and take on roles to help us survive do us a great service as children.  As adults, there are many tools that we can use to bring healing and restore that inner unity.  This series will explore many of those tools and give great hope and encouragement for wholeness along the way. In part one, counselor Mike Garner shares with us about the process of inner healing based on his work with hundreds of people in the U.S. and abroad.  Mike has a gift for making complex systems very understandable and provides lots of everyday examples to illustrate the journey from fragmentation to integration. Click here to listen

Healing Our Sexuality, Part 6- Healing Sexual Addiction

Thursday, February 27

Ready for real sex?  Sex addiction is real, and it really impacts the ones you love.  With 68 million daily requests for pornography on internet search engines and 372 million porn website pages available, aberrant sexual practices are on the rise.  One out of every 6 women struggles with porn addiction, and of those, 80%  act out their behaviors in real life.  Anonymous sex, exhibitionist activities,  self-destructive acts, and sexual violence are becoming common place.  Join us as Sex Addiction Therapist Invia Betjoseph talks about why sexual addiction is such a problem and what you can do to find healing and learn to enjoy real sexual intimacy and pleasure.

Click here to listen

 

Healing Our Sexuality, Part 5- Teaching Our Children About Sex

Thursday, February 20

How do we protect our children from sexual abuse that seems to have become so rampant in our world?  Equipping children to have healthy attitudes about their bodies and sexuality is a challenge for every parent.  If you were abused as a child, it is even more difficult.  Teaching children appropriately in each age and stage is important.  Creating a safe environment for them to talk about sexual things is crucial to be able to have open conversations for a lifetime between parents and children.  We will be talking to Kristin Ewers, therapist and professor of human sexuality, about all these questions and more on February 20th on Beyond Abuse Radio. Click here to listen

Healing Our Sexuality, Part 4- Where Sexuality and Spirituality Converge

Thursday, February 13

Many people experience negative impressions about sexuality from religious sources.  Why is this so common?  What does God have to do with our sexuality?  Human attachment and bonding are vital to thriving lives, but is this just a rehearsal for something even better?  What happens when our sexuality is abused?  Is it possible that sex is actually a sign of the Divine?  Understanding the connection of our sexuality to spiritual experience has the capacity to bring incredible life.  Join us with special guest, Dr. Bev Wiens, Professor and LMFT, as she shares a unique perspective on the convergence of sexuality and spirituality. Click here to listen

Healing Our Sexuality, Part 3- Gender Identity Struggles

Thursday, February 6

Abuse can leave wounds of many varieties. How we feel about being a man or a woman, how we see our bodies, how we think about sex, and how we express ourselves sexually are common things that are influenced by negative experiences in our childhood.  We may become defined by our needs, our desires, and our feelings.  Fear, unmet attachment needs, and lack of confidence in our sexuality can all influence us in the area of developing our gender identity.  Dennis Jernigan, singer, songwriter, and author, knows this firsthand.  Having walked through the journey of sexual brokenness into giving and receiving healthy love, he will share his story of hope and healing with us.  Join us Thursday, February 6th on Beyond Abuse Radio and be inspired! Click here to listen

Healing Our Sexuality, Part 2- Sexual Healing After Trauma

Thursday, January 30

Sexual violence and child sexual abuse understandably affect the whole person, and those effects can strongly impact our sexuality.  How we see our body and approach our relationships can unconsciously be dictated by our negative experiences for years or even lifelong.  Experiencing bad feelings when touched, having difficulty becoming aroused, disassociating during times that are meant to grow intimacy, or engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviors are all common sexual symptoms of previous abuse.  But there is great hope for healing!  Knowing that you are not alone and that we CAN talk about sexual issues without shame might be the first step.  Join Misa as she discusses the healing journey into sexual wholeness after abuse on Beyond Abuse Radio. Click here to listen

Healing Our Sexuality, Part 1- A Portrait of Sexual Wholeness

Thursday, January 23

Sexual health is a key part of our identity as human beings, yet sexuality is an oft misunderstood concept.  The ideas are bandied about that include topics such as avoiding sexually transmitted disease and unwanted pregnancies. We hear about mutual consent and work to eradicate sexual violence.  But what does it really mean to be sexually healthy?  Issues of body integrity and relationships are obvious pieces to the picture but we must also consider communication, self-worth, values, and spirituality to get the whole enchilada.  Join us as Pat Lindstrom, LMFT and sexuality specialist, helps us to navigate the waters to define sexual wholeness. Click here to listen

The Pathway through Pain, Part 6, Finding Joy

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Are you ready for more joy in your life? Join us tomorrow night on Beyond Abuse Radio as Dr. Wilder shares how to move from pain into joy. Learn how to increase your brain’s capacity to engage life with energy, creativity and endurance and to handle the difficult aspects of life. “When we are empowered by joy, we are able to suffer, withstand pain, and still maintain intact relationships with other people…we are empowered to find creative, mutually satisfying solutions for problems.” –Dr. Jim Wilder Pain is a part of life, but it’s not the end of the story.  The reason?  Love ultimately wins.  There is no pain that the power of love cannot conquer.  The pathway THROUGH pain can always lead us into the joy that relationships were intended to bring.  Perhaps the pathway from pain to joy is not a well-traveled one for your brain.  No problem!  Our guest, Dr. Jim Wilder will be on hand to help us train our brains to do just that.  Dr. Wilder is a psychologist, author, speaker, and “neuro-theologian” who specializes in helping people find joy after trauma.  In his new book, Joy Starts Here, he likens joy to a banquet table to which we are all invited and believes that there is room at the table for every one of us.

Healing with Art

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Art is an amazing tool to help us reach the deepest parts of ourselves.  It speaks to us in ways that words cannot.  Art can help us access our nonverbal language to bring personal growth, insight, and transformation.  It enables us to connect with our feelings, thoughts, and perceptions.  Through these images, we can come to understand who we are and enable us to express that self. Join us as we welcome special guest, Michal Madison, watercolor artist and wounded healer, as she shares how art has become a friend along her healing path.

Play Yourself Well

Thursday, October 24, 2013

It’s no secret that play increases learning and creativity.  We also know that play helps build healthy teamwork and intimacy.  But did you know that we use play to learn how to give and receive, how to trust, how to be kind, and how to heal?  Play can help people grow and develop a sense of self-esteem and can help us to recover from trauma and allow those parts of us that are arrested in development to grow into healthy adults.  Play is called the greatest gift of childhood, and can continue to be a great gift to adults.  Join Beyond Abuse Radio this Thursday as we explore the world of play and how it can help us become whole people.

Humor that Heals, Part 3

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Laughter adds joy to life and helps relieve stress.  It strengthens relationships and helps defuse conflict.  Through humor we can ease our anxieties and fears.  In our last two shows we have talked about how laughter and humor can help us to heal.  This week we will give you some specific ways to see the lighter side of life and to take yourself a little less seriously.  Expect some good laughs and a whole bunch of ways to bring humor into challenging situations.  Recharge and reduce your stress by tuning into this week’s episode of Beyond Abuse Radio!

Humor that Heals, Part 2

Thursday, October 10, 2013 Laughter is not as far from tears as you might expect.  In order to laugh, we have to be connected to our feelings.  Being able to cry means we are able to laugh as well.  The more we allow ourselves to be emotionally present the more we can enjoy all the fullness of life.  Laughter feels good and can bring us great release.  This week on Beyond Abuse Radio we will talk about the healing experiences of laughter and imbibe in some of the greatest medicine known to man.

Humor that Heals, Part 1

Thursday, September 26, 2013 

Did you know that laughter can lower blood pressure, boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and release muscle tension?  Arnold Glasgow calls laughter the “tranquilizer with no side effects.”   Laughter therapy is appearing on the scene in many medical facilities as people recognize the healing properties attendant with a good belly laugh.  Laughter has been called the “shock absorber that eases the blows of life.”  Join us as we discuss the benefits of humor and joviality in trauma healing and have a good laugh or two along the way, this THURSDAY at 7:30 p.m. on Beyond Abuse Radio.

20 Tools for Healing

Saturday, September 14, 2013 

What do gratefulness, positive self-talk, play, and exercise all have in common?  They are all tools for healing trauma. There are numerous resources available for all of us on the path to lay hold of thriving lives after experiencing suffering.  It doesn’t matter what the source of your trauma and loss is, the way into joy has similar components.  Every one of our journeys is unique but there is also a lot of common ground. Misa will talk about these four tools along with 16 others to help you on your adventure into wholeness.

Joy heals, Part 2 with Shawn McCain

Saturday, August 3rd, 2013 

Can we have joy in the midst of suffering?  How do we lose our joy?  What can we do to open our lives to more joy?  Guest Sean McCain helps us grapple with these questions and more as we consider the role of joy in healing from trauma.  With a truly joyful spirit, Sean will inspire you and provoke you to new ways of thinking about what joy really is and what you might do to cultivate more joy in your life.

Joy Heals with Shawn McCain

Saturday, July 27 2013 

Joy can be an elusive thing.  What is it exactly?  Happiness?  Pleasure?  Some see joy as a goal in itself; others find joy on the way to living authentically.  Can joy be given and received?  Can it be lost, or found again?  Our special guest, Shawn McCain says joy is risky.  He would know because his live exudes joy.  Learn how you can lay ahold of joy and how it can help you to heal from what ails you this Saturday on Beyond Abuse Radio.

Embracing Your Beauty

Saturday July 6, 2013 

I tell you each week that you are beautiful!  But what does that mean?  And how do I know you are beautiful- I can’t even see you?  Beauty is something that each one of us is created with.  Unfortunately, many of us bury our beauty because we come to see ourselves through the eyes of our abusers.  Uncovering that beauty and living out of it is part of the process of moving from surviving to thriving.  This week we will be exploring what beauty is and why EVERY ONE of you is beautiful.  Join Beyond Abuse Radio as we come face to face with our own beauty and learn to live from our authentic selves.

 Love Heals

Saturday, June 29th, 2013

“Did you think you were immune to this? Did you think you could escape without infection? You do all you’re able to resist just to avoid the danger of rejection. Memory warns you of the past when it all went wrong. When you think your life is shattered and there’s no way to be fixed again, love heals your heart. At a time you least expected, you’re alive like you have never been. Love heals your heart.” (Third Day, Love Heals Your Heart) Indeed, love does heal. Yet love requires trust and vulnerability, which can create a conundrum for abuse survivors. Join special guest and spiritual director, Bonnie Wolf as we discuss the way that love heals and the challenges of learning to give and receive that love.

 Hope Heals

Saturday, June 15, 2013

“When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” ― Pittacus Lore  Without hope we cannot act to change something.  If we want to move from surviving trauma into thriving lives, hope must be within sight.  Where there is no hope, there will be no transformation, only dispair.  Hope is only as good as the thing that we put our hope in.  Hope is more than wishful thinking, it is something we choose to believe in because it is based on promise and a reason for our hopeful vision.   Rob Patterson, Vicar of Redeemer Anglican Church, says that “If our hope is sure then hope transcends our circumstances.  We no longer have to allow our circumstances to dictate our well-being.  No amount of hardship or suffering can crush it.”   Join us Saturday, June 22nd on Beyond Abuse Radio for a discussion on the role that hope plays in healing from trauma and the difference between hope and magical thinking. Rob Patterson has led musical worship since 1995.  He has served as a pastor since 2004.  In 2012 Rob helped found Redeemer Anglican Church in Santa Cruz, California where he currently serves as Vicar.  Rob’s passion is leading people into a genuine response of worship in light of who God is and what he’s done.  Rob has recorded two worship albums.  The latest of which, Found, was released in January of 2009.  Rob has been married to his wife Julie since 2001.  They have two daughters, Lyric and Story, and another baby on the way! You can learn more about Rob’s music at robpattersonmusic.com, and more about Rob’s church at RedeemerAnglican.com.

Justice for Survivors, Part 5

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Special Guest, Karinah Guzman, Heroic Survivor Karinah sits in the court room facing her perpetrator uncle trying to answer the question she was just asked.  “Why did you wait this long?”  She hadn’t waited the 20 to 40 years that it would take most of us to have the strength and courage to take her abuser to court.  She was only 20 when she took the stand to testify.  And then she did something else.  She participated in the documentary, Pursuit of Truth, talking publically about her experience.  Now, she is going to talk to YOU, Beyond Abuse Radio audience about what she has done.  Find out why Karinah’s sister says that “she showed me the meaning of what it is to be strong,” on the last episode of Justice for Survivors.

Justice for Survivors, Part 4

 Saturday, June 1, 2013

Join Beyond Abuse Radio as we speak with producer, Valerie Gibson, about the making of an important film, Pursuit of Trut,h and the impact she hopes to have upon the US justice system for survivors of abuse.  It is a “splendid movie,” both angering and inspiring, as it addresses a crime that is usually committed behind closed doors without witnesses.  Child sexual abuse remains in the dark because children typically are unable to speak about what is happening to them, and the inability to come forward frequently continues into adulthood.  Thus, despite its epidemic proportions in this country, CSA remains in the shadows.  But winds of change are stirring, according to Valerie.  There is a growing movement to change the justice system’s fundamental approach to survivors’ cases.  Tune in to find out exactly how change is being sought, and slowly won, for abuse survivors. Valerie Gibson conceived of the Pursuit of Truth film project as a result of her fight to support her adult son’s quest for justice against the individual who abused him as a child. The family’s odyssey through the legal system was marked by countless impediments-incompetence, indifference, and procedural devices that are heavily weighted against adult survivors and in favor of their perpetrators. This experience led to the realization that as presently constituted, the process re-traumatizes survivors by invading their rights to privacy and subjecting them to inherently unfair practices. Ms. Gibson thought that a film documentary was the most effective method to initiate the process of exposure and education. She was directly involved in every aspect of the filmmaking, including research, selection and interviewing of featured subjects and experts, film shoots, editing, and post-production. She has become a tireless advocate for the cause of survivors seeking justice against their abusers.

Justice for Survivors, Part 3

 Saturday, May 25, 2013

The Injustice of Statutes of Limitations with Blair Corbett When someone commits a murder or burglary, the victims have a limited amount of time to press charges against the perpetrator of the crime. It only follows that the same should be true of child sexual abuse victims, right? Wrong! By the time most people have a clear picture of what was done to them as a child and how it has affected their lives, they are in their twenties or thirties. Being able to break the silence and go public with that information can take another decade or two. If victims of CSA face time restrictions to speak their truth in court, perpetrators continue to walk free and pave their wide paths of destruction upon their communities. It is time to strike down the statutes of limitations world-wide so that survivors of CSA can receive the justice they so deserve and pedophiles can be stopped in their evil tracks. Blair Corbett is an inspirational and motivational speaker for child abuse, child bullying and child trafficking. Blair and Verna Corbett are founders of the nonprofit Ark of Hope for Children. Blair was ordained in 2008 and has received honors for his ministry and counseling efforts. For over 25 years he has been ministering to “fatherless” and orphaned young people. Since 1992 Blair has done internet based support, mentoring and counseling. A growing number of abused youth continue to find his ministry online.

Justice for Survivors, part 2 with Michael Kinslow

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Michael Kinslow has come to realize that the work he is doing as a sexual abuse attorney is not accidental.  Michael’s journey lead him from one brush with pedophiles to another as a child and he continues to be confronted with the horrific reality of the swath of destruction these offenders leave behind.  Though never abused himself, Michael has a tremendous heart to help those who were.  In this second serving, Michael will be talking about how pursuing justice is part of the healing process for many survivors, what the goals are in prosecuting a perpetrator, how to prepare for hearings, the types of sexual abuse cases he is seeing, and what can be done to create safer environments for children.

Justice for Survivors, part 1  with Michael Kinslow, Sexual Abuse Attorney

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Justice.  Is it more than a pipe dream for survivors of childhood abuse, or can it become reality?  From the issue of statutes of limitation to the grueling process of the deposition and trial, seeking justice as a survivor is a challenge.  Over the past few years it has become clear that childhood sexual abuse is more prevalent than previously known and more and more common myths are beginning to get dispelled.  Less than 3% of abusers ever receive adequate penalties for their crimes.  It is important for a victim of childhood sexual abuse to understand that you are not alone, and that the abuse was not your fault.  The decision to pursue legal action against an abuser is a difficult one.  Join Misa with sexual abuse attorney, Michael Kinslow for an eye-opening discussion about the role of justice in the healing process for survivors this Saturday, May 11th on Beyond Abuse Radio.

The Courage to Thrive

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Embracing reality, seeking the truth, saying no to that which harms you and yes to that which brings life are all steps towards moving beyond surviving abuse and living a thriving life.  Making the decisions to do new things opens up opportunities you never dreamed of.  All of it takes courage- sometimes great courage.  What does it look like to be a thiver?  Living from the heart with honest, authentic relationships with self, God and others brings peace, joy, and the love you have always wanted.  As you become who you were created to be, live from your new identity and take new risks, you are able to follow your passion as well as to become a help to others on the healing journey.

The Courage to Do Something New

Saturday, April 27, 2013

We have been discussing the courage to embrace reality, seek the truth, to say no to the destructive patterns we may have adopted and to say yes to that which brings us life.  Once we plant both feet on the path of healing, we find new doors opening and new opportunities arising in our lives.  We can make decisions to join a support group, we can learn new skills, participate in coaching or spiritual direction, get involved in a cause, or train to do that which we know we were born to do.  We can find our power to speak out and bring truth and light and life into others’ lives.  We begin to leave the old ways behind and make the courageous decisions to walk towards the thriving lives we long to live. Join Misa Leonessa as she interviews Bo Budinsky, abuse survivor and thriving activist and speaker, as he shares his amazing journey into the courageous decisions to embrace a new life of truth, advocacy and health. Bo’s life has been challenging at best.  He was sexually violated by 11 perpetrators by the time he was 18 years old.  It profoundly affected and severely altered the course of his life. Bo has dealt with addiction, shattered relationships, abandoned careers.  He has been shot at , homeless, and hopelessly broken.  His life is truly the stuff that books and movies are made of.  That he is even alive is a miracle in and of itself. Yet a profound spiritual experience early in Bo’s childhood sustained him on a journey no child, or adult for that matter, should ever have to take.  A voice and a knowing was instilled in him that day. The voice said, “Keep getting back up.” The message was that one day he would know what his struggle was all about- that it would have meaning, and that he would find his life’s purpose in so doing. Bo had an epiphany. He found out.  Now his journey is one magnificent, miraculous ride. Bo’s purpose is clear. He got to come home.

The Courage to Say Yes

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Last week we talked about saying no to the destructive patterns in our lives.  This week we want to embrace those things that bring us more life.  When we say no to the things that steal away our hope and relationships we have new choices to open our hearts to goodness.  We can say yes to relationship, yes to learning trust, yes to love, yes to intimacy.  Living authentic lives, living from the heart, is a huge challenge for those of us who suffered abuse as children.  Becoming vulnerable and learning to attach in healthy ways to those we love takes great courage!  But…together we are strong.  Join us and let’s walk together into health and wholeness.

The Courage to Say No

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Before we can make room for the good things that comprise a thriving life, we must say no to the things that keep us from walking in health and wholeness.  Saying no to living in secrecy and silence out of shame over our abuse, no to keeping the status quo and allowing addictions and detrimental thought patterns to have free reign, no to being controlled by fear, self protection, control, and isolation. Guest Duane Katene will be sharing his journey of healing as chronicled in his book, Neon Signs.  In this book the main character ‘Damian King’ is based on Duane’s life as a sexual abuse survivor. Through a series of journal entries, poetry and short stories, the reader discovers what sexual abuse is and what is feels like to have gone through sexual abuse. Duane Katene is 35 years old and happily married to his wife Jodie. He have three daughters – Armarna, 7, Grace, 5 and Arden 2. He was born in New Zealand and moved to the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland, Australia when he was 8. He has a Bachelor of Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Arts/Media, and currently works as a Foster Care Case Worker.  Duane’s ambition is to write full time and to increase awareness and understanding of sexual abuse.

The Courage to Seek the Truth

Saturday, April 6th, 2013

As we embrace the reality of our past and present, we are able to find new options for our future.  One of those options is to open our hearts to the truth.  Often as a result of our traumas we have unconsciously taken false beliefs about ourselves and the world deep into our minds and hearts.  Becoming aware of those beliefs enables us to make the choice to find the truth.

The Courage to Embrace Reality

Saturday, March 30th, 2013

The beginning of healing is admitting what happened to you and how it has affected you.  Until you are able to embrace reality, your past will continue to unconsciously control your thoughts, feelings, and relationships.  It takes great courage to move beyond denial and disassociation and the ensuing healing will bring you great life.  As you make the choice to embrace the memories you may have been avoiding and, with them, the precious wounded parts inside, you open new doors to move into healthy relationships, peace of mind, and joy.  The path is a challenging one but there is great support available for the odyssey.  Join Beyond Abuse Radio this Saturday, March 30th for strength and encouragement for healing journey.

What is Courage?

Saturday, March 23, 2013

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”  Anais Nin  Courage is the stuff that good things are made of.  Healing takes great courage.  Without it, there is little hope of transformation.  How do we become courageous people?  Is it an inborn trait, can it be taught or caught?  Is it a skill that, with practice, becomes easier?  Courage is not the absence of fear; but rather, it is the conquest of fear. Making courageous decisions and taking courageous actions don’t just happen.  We cultivate courage day by day and step by step.  Join Misa Leonessa as she talks about the courage to heal from trauma and embrace the thriving life you were created to have in the first of a six-week series beginning on Saturday, March 23rd at noon, Pacific Time.

Healing from Spiritual Abuse, Part 3

Saturday, March 16th, 2013

Anyone can be susceptible to the seductive manipulation of a cult.  With 20 million people joining cults in the last two decades in the US, the topic of healing from the mind control and triggers is a big one.  One on one relationships also can introduce the subtle terror of mind control.  Healing requires getting support, understanding what happened, choosing to trust again, and learning what a healthy leader looks like.  Join Misa Leonessa this Saturday, March 16th for the last in this series about rebuilding your life after involvement in a cult or a cultic relationship.

Healing from Spiritual Abuse, Part 2

Saturday, March 9th, 2013

Can a thinking person really fall for the deception of a spiritually abusive or cultic situation?  What are the signs of a spiritually abusive environment?  Leaving a cult or a “cultic relationship” can be incredibly difficult.  What makes recovery from a cult easier or more difficult?  Are there things that someone can do to help those recovering from spiritual abuse?  These questions and more will be the topic with guest, Columba Lisa Smith as she shares her experience in a cult, her journey out, and the challenging healing process that ensued

Healing from Spiritual Abuse, Part 1

Saturday, March 2nd, 2013

Spiritual abuse attacks a person’s very sense of self.  Extracting oneself from a group or relationship that is spiritually abusive is extremely challenging, but it can be done.  The healing journey is not an easy one, but there are some great resources and supports available to help you on your way.  Our guest, Dixie Diamanti, has walked the path of healing herself and shares her journey and what has helped her to find peace, love, and a thriving life.  Join Dixie and Misa Saturday, March 2nd at noon, PST to learn more about healing from the hopelessness, fear, guilt and powerlessness that come with the experience of being spiritually abused.

Recognizing Spiritual Abuse

Saturday, February 23rd, 2013

Spiritual abuse is the misuse of a position of power and the misrepresentation of information.  It can happen through religious organizations, in groups, or in one-on-one relationships.  Because it affects its victims at the core level of their belief systems, it attacks a person’s very sense of self.  It can be particularly difficult to extract one’s self from the abusive environment and be very challenging to heal from.  Confusion, hopelessness, loss of confidence, fear, guilt, and powerlessness all characterize the feelings of a spiritual abuse victim.  In this episode Misa Leonessa will share from her experience, research, and client work about what spiritual abuse is, the signs of its presence, and the impact that it has on its survivors.

Embracing Your Beauty, Part 2

Saturday, February 16th, 2013

Did you know that only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful?  Chances are, if you are an abuse survivor, you find yourself in the other 96%. We are all born with innate beauty.  As we grow older, we cover our sweet beauty with layers of self-protection, especially if we were abused.  Our openness is hidden by skepticism.  Our vulnerability covered up with control.  Our playfulness turns to perfectionism and our honesty becomes a carefully managed image.  But our beautiful, authentic selves are still there.  They are just a bit harder to see.  Join Misa Leonessa as she helps you to rediscover your beauty in this week’s episode of Beyond Abuse Radio.

Overcoming Fears of Abandonment  with Rachel Grant

Saturday, February 9, 2013

The fear of abandonment is extremely common in those of us who have been abused.  When it comes to abandonment, we are very much driven by a fear of the unknown. We do not know if the people we are connecting to may one day withdraw their protection or support.  “People always leave” can be a common inner belief we hold.  Some of the behaviors that we fall into as survivors to try to avoid being abandoned can set us up for failure in our relationships.  Join Misa Leonessa and special guest,  Life Coach Rachel Grant as we discuss how to negotiate the tricky waters of overcoming our abandonment fears.

Embracing Your Beauty, Part 1

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013

I tell you each week that you are beautiful!  But what does that mean?  And how do I know you are beautiful- I can’t even see you?  Beauty is something that each one of us is created with.  Unfortunately, many of us bury our beauty because we come to see ourselves through the eyes of our abusers.  Uncovering that beauty and living out of it is part of the process of moving from surviving to thriving.  This week we will be exploring what beauty is and why EVERY ONE of you is beautiful.

Empowerment through Activism

Saturday, January 26th, 2013

Breaking our silence is an important step in our empowerment as abuse survivors.  Taking the next step and getting involved as an advocate for other survivors can empower us in incredible new ways.  Andrew Willis, director of the Stop Abuse Campaign says: “Activism can give our own inner child a voice on behalf of today’s children.  Most survivors want to be a part of stopping abuse; it can be a very healing process.”  Join the conversation with Andrew and Misa about how you can get involved and the healing that is waiting for you as you take a stand for respect and justice.

Empowerment through Healing of Abuse

Saturday, January 19th, 2013

Being abused as a child strips one of power simply because we were powerless to stop the painful things that were happening to us.  Re-empowering abuse survivors is the life work of Liz Mullinar, director of Heal for Life in Australia.  As she shares on her TED talk, our culture often ignores child abuse and its impact on adult survivors and is all to ready to label and medicate us and resign us to life sentences of pain.  Mental illness, addiction, depression, and suicide all find their victims among survivors.  The truth is that abuse can be healed and, with it, all of the disorders that accompany our unhealed wounds.  Join Misa Leonessa and Liz Mullinar for a great conversation about abuse healing and how it empowers us to live the lives we were created to have.  Healing is key to moving into a thriving life and is available to all who will face the darkness of their past and embrace with love the wounded little inner child inside.

Medical Empowerment

Saturday, January 12th, 2013

Medical issues can be a challenge in the best of circumstances.  For abuse survivors, dealing with health problems can present special challenges.  Triggers, low self esteem, fear of authority, body issues, and touch can all add to the mix when addressing medical problems and undergoing treatment. Fear of doctors and dentists are not uncommon.  The question of how to put appropriate trust in medical personnel while taking responsibility for your own health is a skill that must be learned.  Becoming aware of all of your options and making wise treatment decisions is important.  How and when to disclose an abuse history to your medical care team is another consideration. Misa Leonessa shares her thoughts and experience in living with several chronic health issues, including a genetic vascular disease, and the challenges she has faced.  Through many doctor visits, medical procedures and multiple surgeries, she knows the struggle with health issues from a survivor’s perspective.  She has learned how and when to use western medicine (it has saved her life more than once), and when to find healthy alternatives.  Her journey has taught her how to own her body and the ultimate decisions for what will be done to it, by whom and when.  Through taking responsibility for her own health, she has been able to use nutrition, exercise, and other interventions to greatly minimize the need for more tests and surgeries.  She is learning how to thrive in the midst of great challenge.

 Emotional Empowerment

Saturday, January 5th, 2013

Making emotions our ally rather than our enemy brings great empowerment in our healing.  This episode of Beyond Abuse Radio will teach you how to use your emotions to inform you and deepen your awareness about what is happening within you and around you, without allowing them to dictate your beliefs or actions.  We need not fear our feelings, but can befriend them to bring us understanding and discernment about our life and our world.  Learning to listen to and appropriately express our emotions enables us to live authentically, connected to our own insides and to those we love.  Misa Leonessa shares from her training, experience, and research about building emotional intelligence and utilizing feelings to aide the healing process.

Spiritual Empowerment

Saturday, December 29th, 2012

We are empowered by opening our hearts to God and choosing to trust the only One who is completely trustworthy.  By becoming aware of what is moving us closer to God or further away from Him, we are able to make choices that lead us to more healing and more life.   Learning spiritual disciplines like different kinds of prayer, silence, contemplation, and expressing our supernatural impressions through art and writing help us to be more cognizant of the blessings we often pass unnoticed.  As we invite God to share all of our feelings and experiences, we can stop running from those things that we fear and walk through the pain in the cradle of  His love.  Then we are able to receive the new inheritance of life, joy, and peace that awaits us in His arms. Misa is a certified Spiritual Director and has been walking the road of spiritual healing for nearly 40 years. She shares from her own journey, knowing intimately the struggles and the joys of being in relationship with God. She will be covering how a relationship with God can heal us, the issues and challenges that arise in the midst of spiritual healing, and lots of awesome tools and resources to help you on your walk into spiritual wholeness.

Verbal Empowerment

Saturday,December 15, 2012

Abuse almost always begins with verbal dis-empowerment.  It can also be ended there with the right tools.  Too often, people who are abused as children never learn the confidence and verbal skills to disarm a potential abuser. Our guest, Dennis Golden, is the founder of IM-Safe, an organization that trains girls and women to move beyond vulnerability and know what to do and say to be safe.  He will be sharing tools and ideas to help us to neutralize individuals who are becoming verbally aggressive and deescalate an argument.  Through these tools, we can gain the confidence to act out of a sense of power and empowerment instead of fear and confusion. As a certified self-defense instructor and personal security specialist, Dennis travels nationally and internationally, as a member of the National Speakers Association delivering keynote addresses and workshops on the topic of personal safety for women. Thousands of women have attended 90-minute workshops offered by IM-SAFE®.

Power and Empowerment

Saturday, December 8th, 2012

What does it look like to be empowered? How do we find our personal power after abuse? Misa Leonessa shares just how much power we have as survivors to create thriving lives. She discusses the difference between having power to live out our core values versus using power to control others and uses her own story to illustrate the journey from powerlessness to empowerment.

Physical Empowerment

Saturday, December 1, 2012

How do you keep yourself safe in an increasingly violent culture?  Physical strength is a helpful part of becoming empowered.  As a woman, being fit and healthy help us to have the self-esteem and energy to stay aware of danger that may threaten our well-being.  Even more important than that, though, is the proper mind set and tools for keeping ourselves safe.  Do you know the 4 survival rules for self-defense?  Our guest, former police woman Elsie Allen, will give share those and discuss why having a confident attitude takes you off the “victim” list.  She will also discuss how to select a good self-defense course. Elsie Allen is the founder and CEO of Sisters S.O.S. (Supernaturally Overcoming Situations) and a frequent voice on the subject of Women’s Personal Safety. For the past 20 years, Ms. Elsie has captivated audiences of both men and women from all walks of life with her safety workshops, Concealed Handgun License classes, and as a keynote inspirational speaker. Prior to establishing Sisters S.O.S., Elsie served the city of Fort Worth, TX as a police officer for seven years. She is keenly devoted to her calling, and well known by many for her passion, knowledge, enthusiasm, humor and sensitivity about personal safety matters. She is the survivor of two personal Domestic Violence relationships and takes great joy in empowering others for personal safety.

Empowerment through Education

Saturday, November 24, 2012

The truth sets us free.  Gaining awareness of human rights and laws regarding those rights can alter the course of people’s lives.  Formal schooling can bring great freedom and increase one’s choices in life.   Entrepreneurship training opens doors wide for creating thriving lives.  Arts education is an amazing tool to help aid healing from trauma.  All these forms of education empower people by giving them knowledge and options that they would not have otherwise had.  Made by Survivors Director, Sarah Symons has seen the incredible impact that a little enlightenment can have for people who have been used and abused and robbed of personal power.  She shares stories from her front row seat as she witnesses the transformed lives brought about through educational empowerment around the world.

Economic Empowerment

Saturday, November 17, 2012

How does the ability to support one’s self financially impact our sense of power?  How is money used to control people and dis-empower them?  What happens when self-sufficiency becomes possible?  Is it ever appropriate to be financially dependent on another person for a season of life?  What are the steps toward financial empowerment?  Special guest, Carmel Jud, founder of Rise International will share inspiring stories of women finding financial freedom and self-determination in the U.S. and abroad through a unique international program she has created.

 What is Empowerment?

Saturday, November 3rd, 2012

Do you want the courage to speak your truth?  To live by your own beliefs and convictions?  To feel the fear, but take action anyway?  Then you are ready to live an empowered life!  Abuse can make us feel powerless and learning how to regain our personal power is a challenging part of the healing process. Join Misa Leonessa and special guest, Svava Björnsdóttir Brooks, as we discuss part 1 of our new Empowerment series:  What is Empowerment?  Svava is the founder of Educate4Change, a public speaker and educator, and passionate about child sexual abuse prevention. She is the co-founder of a nationwide Child Sexual Abuse prevention and education program in Iceland,Blátt áfram and survivor of child sexual abuse.  Her hope is to lead by example in breaking the silence on this most damaging and pervasive issue.  Svava speaks openly and directly about her abuse, personal healing and dedication to the issue of CSA, and by doing so hopes to educate survivors and other responsible adults.  She has dedicated her life to ending the cycle of abuse through education, awareness and supporting survivors how to get the help they need.

Building a Healthy Self Image, Part 3

Saturday, October 27th, 2012

Have you ever noticed the way you talk to yourself?  Your inner thoughts about yourself reveal your most deeply held beliefs about who you are. This week, Dr. Edward Kubani,  a research psychologist at the National Center for PTSD, will be sharing with us about eliminating negative self-talk and the low self-esteem that goes with it.  He will give specific exercises to develop awareness about your self-talk and help to understand the underlying guilt and false beliefs that create the patterns of negative thinking.

Building a Healthy Self Image, Part 2

Saturday, October 20th, 2012

This Saturday we welcome special guest, Lynn Tolson, for part 2 of Building a Healthy Self Image. Lynn will share her journey through a suicide attempt to become an advocate and speaker for those still trapped in the chains of self-hate. Her healing took her from believing that she was worthless to publishing her story, Beyond the Tears, and empowering others caught in the cycle of abuse. Lynn will also share the Straight A’s of Self-Esteem to encourage you to learn to think about yourself in a healthy way.

Building a Healthy Self Image, Part 1

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Low self-esteem is a very common effect of childhood abuse and domestic violence. It impacts everything we do and say and all of our relationships.  Abuse communicates rejection to survivors and that rejection takes root deep inside the mind and heart of many of us.  Coming to embrace our own value is one of the most important tasks in our journey into wholeness.  Join Misa as she shares the challenging adventure of learning to see and embrace herself for who she really is.  Her journey will encourage you to do the same as you learn about ways that you can improve your own self-image.

 

 

 

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