01/07/2020
Kintsugi: The Value of a Broken Bowl
I am kintsugi. Linda, a past participant at the Saprea Retreat. The Legend of Kintsugi. A Japanese legend tells the story of a mighty shogun warrior who broke his favorite tea bowl and sent it away for repairs. When he received it back, the bowl was held together by unsightly metal staples.
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05/11/2019
How to Handle the Holidays as a Survivor
The hustle and bustle of the holidays can be fun and exciting. Sometimes though the holiday season can present overwhelming emotions and triggering moments. Holidays and family get-togethers can be trying for anyone, but for survivors of child sexual abuse they can be even more difficult, especially if your family is tied to your abuse in some way.
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03/28/2019
Child Sexual Abuse Stigma and How to Combat It
On your healing journey, you may come across people who react to your experiences in inappropriate or even hurtful ways. These reactions, whether intentional or not, might make you feel self-conscious, embarrassed, or discouraged. They might make you feel judged or criticized. A painful reaction when you disclose your abuse may lead to a setback on your healing journey, causing you to question whether you should even continue sharing your story with others.
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01/13/2019
8 Myths About Child Sexual Abuse
There are a lot of misconceptions about child sexual abuse. Read through these myths of child sexual abuse so you can educate yourself and others.
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01/13/2019
6 Perpetrator Grooming Behaviors Every Parent Needs to Know
Perpetrators of sexual abuse are often people you and your child know. Here are six signs for you to recognize to keep your child safe.
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01/13/2019
What to Do if You Suspect Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused
Perhaps you’ve noticed a few signs of sexual abuse in a child you are close to. Here are 8 things that can help you respond to the situation.
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07/10/2018
Sexual Arousal During Abuse and the Shame of the Survivor
Many survivors feel ashamed that they experienced sexual arousal during their abuse. Learn how the body responds automatically.
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06/19/2018
5 Everyday Activities You Didn’t Know Were Grounding Techniques
Did you know there are things you do all the time that can be used as a way to ground yourself? These grounding techniques are generally something you already do (or can do) every day. The goals of grounding are to stay present in the moment, decrease the severity of intense emotions, and calm an overactive nervous system. Here are five activities you can add to your grounding toolkit.
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06/05/2018
The Challenge of Disclosing Your Abuse
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, you might have moments when you feel like you’re carrying an invisible weight. Others can’t see it, but to you, it’s there and it’s real. At some point you might consider telling others about your abuse, taking the invisible and making it visible, but the thought of disclosing can be overwhelming and scary. Here are a few helpful things to know.
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04/22/2018
What Are Somatic Responses and Why Do They Matter?
We might have a tendency to think that our bodies function in a top-down way: our conscious minds tell our bodies what to do. The reality is that there is a lot of bottom-up activity, too: our bodies have a major impact on the way we think.
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01/13/2018
Good Secrets and Bad Secrets: How to Help Kids Tell the Difference
Perpetrators of sexual abuse are often people you and your child know. Here are six signs for you to recognize to keep your child safe.
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01/13/2018
Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth from Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse affects people from all walks of life, including people of every religion, race, socioeconomic status, and gender. But while there is no risk to any child, there are certain populations and demographics that are higher risk of sexual abuse; one of those groups is children who belong o the LGBTQ+ community.
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