Healing Childhood Sexual Abuse | Childhood Trauma, Shame, Trust Issues, Anger, Abandonment, Fear

Have you ever wondered if your past has disqualified you from the life God intended for you? After experiencing childhood sexual abuse, many women believe their story is defined by shame, pain, and brokenness. But God's Word tells a different story. In this episode, Leslie shares a personal story of God's faithfulness and explores the remarkable story of Ruth—a woman whose life began with loss and...

Happy 4th of July—and Happy 250th Birthday to the United States! 🇺🇸 As we celebrate the freedom of our nation, I want to invite you to consider an even greater freedom—the freedom that can only be found in Jesus Christ. In this special Independence Day episode, I share a personal reflection on growing up loving America, remembering the Bicentennial celebration in 1976, and how, years later, I disc...

Have you ever felt like you were making progress in your healing journey, only to find yourself triggered again? Maybe you've wondered, "Why am I still struggling?" or "I thought I was past this." If you've ever felt discouraged because healing hasn't looked the way you expected, this episode is for you. The truth is, healing isn't a straight line. It has ups and downs, breakthroughs and setbacks,...

Have you ever felt like no matter how much healing work you've done, you still struggle with feelings of shame, unworthiness, fear, or self-doubt? One of the most devastating effects of childhood sexual abuse isn't just what happened to you—it's what you came to believe because it happened. Many survivors carry hidden beliefs such as: It was my fault. I'm damaged. I'm unlovable. I can't trust anyo...

Have you ever wondered why you're still struggling with the effects of childhood sexual abuse, even after years of counseling, prayer, self-help books, or simply trying to move on? If so, you're not alone. Many survivors believe that with enough time, effort, or willpower, the pain should eventually disappear. Yet they still find themselves battling shame, anxiety, trust issues, triggers, people-p...

Have you ever wondered why childhood sexual abuse still affects your life years—or even decades—later? Maybe you've worked hard to move forward. You've built a family, a career, or a life that looks successful on the outside. Yet underneath the surface, you're still struggling with shame, fear, anxiety, people-pleasing, trust issues, anger, or feeling like you're never enough. If that's you, this...

Did you grow up feeling emotionally unseen, unsafe, or unloved? In this deeply personal and healing episode, we’re talking about the mother wound — the emotional pain many women carry from childhood when they did not feel nurtured, comforted, protected, or emotionally connected to their mother. This episode is especially powerful for women healing from childhood trauma and childhood sexual abuse,...

The woman who has experienced a broken heart in many ways is a victim in the wake of another persons intentional abuse. This can leave feelings of fear, loneliness, and despair.  Today Leslie shares a simple solution and gives you 3 steps to begin your healing journey or continue on from Childhood Sexual Abuse.  🔗 Connect with Me: 👉 Schedule a Rooted & Risen Coaching Session . >>Grab a...

Is God real? This is a question that gets asked from every woman who has experienced childhood sexual abuse.   In this episode, Leslie touches a deep rooted subject. Shares her own experience of asking God for evidence that He hears her.   In Matthew 5:8 Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God."  It can be tough when you feel fear, have anger, a lack of trust and so much s...

Can what you eat impact your healing journey after childhood sexual abuse? In this episode of Hope in the Fire, we explore the connection between nutrition, emotional health, and trauma recovery. While food doesn’t heal trauma, it can support your body, improve mental clarity, and strengthen your ability to heal. In This Episode: How trauma affects the body and nervous system The connection betwee...

Prayer can feel confusing… even distant… especially when your story includes deep wounds like childhood sexual abuse. In today’s episode, we’re simplifying prayer and bringing it back to what it was always meant to be—a real, honest conversation with God. If you’ve ever struggled to trust God, open up to Him, or even know what to say, this episode will gently guide you through a simple, powerful f...

What if the biggest battle you face every day… is happening in your mind? For women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, the lies can feel overwhelming: “I’m not worthy.” “I’m not loved.” “My life doesn’t matter.” In this deeply personal and truth-filled episode of Hope in the Fire, we’re talking about how to break free from those destructive thought patterns and replace them with what God...

What if your story isn’t over? Today we’re talking about what it looks like to move beyond healing… and begin rewriting your story with God. After unlocking childhood memories and learning how to process them safely, the next step is transformation—shifting the way you see your past, your identity, and your future. If you’ve ever felt defined by what you’ve been through, this episode will remind y...

*WARNING This episode may have triggering content. What do you do when painful childhood sexual trauma memories start to surface? In Part 2 of this series, we’re continuing the conversation on healing childhood trauma—this time focusing on how to process difficult memories safely and with God at the center. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, triggered, or unsure what to do when memories come back, t...

Have you ever felt disconnected when others share joyful childhood memories? Maybe you don’t remember much… or maybe the memories you do have feel too painful to revisit. In this episode of Hope in the Fire, we’re talking about how childhood trauma can impact your memories—and how healing isn’t just about processing pain, but also rediscovering joy. I share my personal journey of avoiding childhoo...

What if the very thing you thought you didn’t need… became the breakthrough you were praying for? In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, I share my personal journey of healing from childhood trauma — from working with a non-Christian counselor, to receiving pastoral counseling, to participating in women’s Bible studies… and ultimately discovering the transformational power of coaching. Each step...

From Shame to Freedom: Overcoming Childhood Trauma Through Truth Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly felt small? Felt inadequate without knowing why? Avoided hard conversations because something inside you whispered, “You’re not enough”? That whisper has a name. Shame. In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, we are talking about toxic shame rooted in childhood trauma — how it forms, how...

Welcome back to Hope in the Fire, the podcast for Christian women healing from trauma and rebuilding their lives through spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and nutritional wellness. In today’s episode, we’re talking about Christian stress management for women and how to experience true peace when life feels overwhelming. If last week we discussed courage overcoming fear, this week we’re addre...

In today’s episode Leslie talks about how courage involves acting upon your desire, despite the fear. The enemy would love for you to stay stuck in fear. Fear of what others will say. Fear that no one loves you. Fear that you are not good enough. How can we change this? By understanding that courage involves recognizing its connection to our brain’s response to fear. By understanding your journey,...

In today’s episode, Leslie explores: The difference between coping and true resilience Why resilience is not self-reliance How trauma, perfectionism, and dopamine keep women stuck Why interruptions often come right before growth How to return to rhythm after emotional, spiritual, or physical disruption In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, Leslie opens her heart to share her personal adoption st...

In today’s episode of Hope in the Fire, Leslie opens her heart to share her personal adoption story and the profound spiritual truth of being adopted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. Drawing from Ephesians 1:4–5, Leslie explains how adoption isn’t just a legal process—it’s a divine act of love. For women who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, questions of belonging, worth, and id...

In today's episode Leslie shares her real and raw story of her own experience with abortion.  Through the cross of Jesus and the forgiveness of sin, she has overcome the shame of the horrific events.  She encourages her listeners that God loves them no matter what.  Healing is possible.    Scriptures referenced:  Pslam 139:13-16 Luke 1   🔗 Connect with Me: >> https://lesliechermak.com/conta...

This time of year often stirs deep questions about purpose. As the holidays fade and a new year approaches, many women begin to wonder if there is more — more meaning, more clarity, more of who God created them to be. But these questions don’t only come at the end of the year. They surface when seasons change, when children grow up, when trauma lingers, or when God gently calls us forward. In this...

Following through on goals isn’t about willpower — it’s about courage, healing, and alignment. In this episode, we explore why following through feels so difficult for women who have experienced trauma, and how faith and neuroscience work together to help us move forward even when fear is present. You’ll learn how your nervous system impacts motivation, how God designed your body to support courag...

Waking up with purpose can feel impossible when trauma, stress, and old memories still live in the body. In this episode, we explore how God designed the body, brain, and spirit to work together for healing and resilience. You’ll learn how the gut–brain connection influences mood, anxiety, and stress response, why nourishment and hydration matter spiritually and neurologically, and how small morni...