Finding OK - Healing After Sexual Assault and Abuse

Lily Sage and I discuss the ways that our current punitive judicial system fails all of us, especially the marginalized and survivors of sexual assault, and we discuss Restorative Justice as a potential alternative. Lily discusses a paper she wrote before the Me Too movement and how many of the concepts and ideas that were groundbreaking a decade ago are now much more a part of our evolving social...

Janitta Nichols is a speaker, writer, and the author of, "The Secrets of My Mother - Breaking Free from Generational Curses and Trauma". Janitta is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and she shares her healing process. Janitta left her career as a police officer behind to speak her truth. She is breaking the cycle for her family with faith, love, courage, and forgiveness. Tw/Cw: Trauma...

In this episode I share a personal story of freezing during an assault and talk about forgiving ourselves for moments we weren't able to respond as we might have wished. I share a little bit about traveling in India and some of the safety measures I have taken over the years during my time there. I also share a personal practice that is a part of my own healing journey. Gulabi Gang - These wo...

Lisa David Olson is a speaker, creative coach, podcaster, comedian, and the author of the book, "Laughs On Wry - An Improviser's Memoir". Lisa loves connecting with people through humor, laughing, pranking, being brave, hot yoga, coffee, and embarrassing her kids. She is always on the lookout for more of her favorite people: weirdos. Tw/Cw: Trauma, abuse, child abuse, PTSD, alcoholi...

Bailee Noella is the author of  "bathtub in flames" and creator of Cyno Apparel, the streetwear line taking shame out of mental health conditions. Join me as I talk to her about her writing process and her healing process. Tw/Cw: Trauma, abuse, childhood sexual assault, OCD, PTSD, substances, the pandemic, racism and sexism in Medicine, and spirituality. bathtub in flames: https://www.am...

The experience of awe is a rarely discussed but incredibly powerful part of growth and healing. In this episode I discuss the benefits of awe, I torture some metaphors, give you some ideas of how to seek out awe in your daily life, and share some of my most memorable experiences of awe that transformed my life or stuck with me over the years. Tw/Cw: Trauma, abuse, PTSD, spirituality, and a metapho...

Kim and I talk movies and have some laughs. In this episode we cover some more movies with strong women. I talk about a movie I hate and that you should never under any circumstances watch, and Kim introduces me to the movie trope, "Born Sexy Yesterday". Born Sexy Yesterday https://youtu.be/0thpEyEwi80 Support the show

In this episode Kim and I touch on some darker subject matter. I discuss my experiences with a human cadaver lab, responding as a bystander in a medical emergency, and using my words to escape an abuser. We also talk about how people respond to crisis and nerd it up briefly with Star Trek. Please pay attention to the content warnings, this episode is not for everyone! Tw/Cw: Death, human anatomy,...

In this episode I discuss the importance of creating and nurturing a rich inner life. I open up about how my own inner world as a child saved my life and use this example to help explain how mindful cultivation of inner landscapes of beauty and hope can be an essential and potentially lifesaving tool during times of prolonged stress and crisis. Tw/Cw: Child abuse, trauma, PTSD, stress, chronic ill...

Kim and I discuss some of our experiences with lucid dreaming and share some tips that might help you. I share my struggle with nightmares in the past and a revelation in therapy that gave me insight into a reoccurring theme. Tw/Cw: PTSD, trauma, substances, nightmares, death, decay, brief mention of psych ward Support the show

Kim is an Audio Engineer, a talented musician, a pansexual trans woman, and the Queen of Memes. She loves black clothing, intense movies, video games, the NBA, and making her friends laugh. She loves her coffee sweet and her candy sour. Join us while we talk about some of the movies we love and the strong women in them that fascinate and inspire us. Tw/Cw: Substances, PTSD, trauma, abuse, domestic...

In this episode I talk about why it's so important to find a way to release tension after prolonged periods of stress, and then I discuss our growing use of the word"toxic" to describe people and relationships and how it might be clouding our ability to identify and call out abuse. Tw/Cw: PTSD, abuse, and domestic violence. Article https://cerebral-sexuality.com/2018/07/31/toxic-rel...

This is a support and self-care episode for the 2020 Election. For survivors this is a time of extreme anxiety, triggers, and symptom flare-ups. It is ok to not be ok! That said, lets talk self-care. At the end I share one of my favorite Buddhist mantras and lead you in some deep, healing breaths. Medicine Buddha Traditional https://www.google.com/search?q=tibetan+thangka+medicine+buddha&tbm=i...

As the days grow shorter and the shadows lengthen many of us turn inward and sometimes struggle with some of the things we find in our own inner worlds. Eliot joins me in this special Samhain/Halloween episode to discuss shadow work and the dark parts of ourselves, meeting the challenges of this time of year, and to just have fun and shoot the shit about horror movies. Blessed Samhain, Happy Hallo...

This episode takes a look at the negativity we can direct at ourselves, the false beliefs about ourselves that our abusers can leave behind, and how important it is to take notice and root those beliefs out. Y'all better stop talking trash about yourselves. I mean it! New Webpage! https://www.podpage.com/finding-ok/ Support the show

My sister Chie and I discuss most survivor's worst case senario heading into jury duty: being interviewed for a sexual assault case. We share our own experiences with this process and share advice for preparing for and handling this should it happen to you. Tw/Cw: sexual assault, trauma, PTSD, Anxiety, abuse, the court system, mention of medical marijuana, mention of Eating Disorders, CPS, an...

Annie Margis talks about her new book, The Ugliest Word . Annie is a survivor of childhood incest and her work is helping to break the silence and challenge the taboo. Annie and I talk about her passions and pursuits, how writing can help you heal, and the importance of connecting with other survivors. Annie's website. Please check out the Fact Sheet! It's an amazing resource! https://ww...

How can you tell if returning to your place of trauma will be beneficial? I discuss my own experiences with returning to my place, and share a list of actions you can take to make your return a healing and helpful one. Tw/Cw: Mention of sexual assault, abusive relationships, trauma, PTSD, dissociation, and panic attacks.  Support the show

DeSha speaks very openly about her experiences with abortion. Now the mother of a wonderful child DeSha opens up about the difficult decisions she made on her path to parenthood while in a covertly abusive relationship and struggling with health issues.  TW/CW: Abortion, descriptions of procedures, abusive relationships, trauma, sex, addiction, and substances. Support the show

DeSha shares more of her personal story in this episode. She talks about her relationship with a covert abuser, shares red flags, and reflects on the past with compassion and wisdom from a place of healing and growth.  TW/CW: Developmental trauma, PTSD, abuse, abusive relationship, depression, chronic illness, suicide, addiction, substances, childbirth, pregnancy, abortion, Postpartum Depression,...

DeSha shares how EMDR therapy has changed her life, what sessions are like, and offers advice for anyone interested in trying it for themselves. We also talk about some seldom discussed somatic symptoms of PTSD and trauma that can leave people doubting themselves and feeling alone. DeSha is an editorial & lifestyle photographer, and a loving partner and mother. Support the show

In this special episode you can adjust your volume, lay down, close your eyes, and join me for a guided healing journey through a beautiful moonlit forest. A circle of ancient trees is waiting to bear witness as the moon graces you with a healing gift of light. Get those tingles! Support the show

Dauntless is a nonbinary/trans photographer, parent of two, singer, gamer, runner, survivor of 47 brain surgeries, and all around bamf. Join us as we talk and laugh about some incredibly intense photography work we did together in art college called "Voice of the Survivors".  TW/CW: Sexual assault, rape, stalking, molestation, abuse, abuse from an authority figure, coersion, substances,...

Welcome to Season 2 ! In this episode I revisit the Healing Affirmations that started the podcast in Season 1 and I introduce some new ones. I'm so grateful for all of you! Support the show

I talk a bit about what's behind the name of the podcast, and then walk you through a simple grounding and centering exercise that you can add to your self-care tool kit. Support the show