1 00:00:04,360 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Therapy for Black Girls podcast, where we 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: discussed all things mental health, personal development, and all the 3 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: small decisions we can make to become the best possible 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: versions of ourselves. I'm your host, Dr Joy Harden Bradford, 5 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: a licensed psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia. To get more information 6 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: and resources, visit the website at Therapy for Black Girls 7 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: dot com. And while I hope you love listening to 8 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: and learning from the podcast, it is not meant to 9 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: be a substitute for a relationship with a licensed mental 10 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: health professional. Hey, y'all, thanks so much for joining me 11 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: for Session nineteen of the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast. Today, 12 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: I'm joined by special guest therapist, Dr Shena Young, who 13 00:00:55,360 --> 00:01:00,320 Speaker 1: is a body inclusive clinical psychologist, certified yoga teacher, and 14 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: Level one Ricky practitioner from California. Today, Shena and I 15 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,840 Speaker 1: talk all about healing after a sexual assault. Shena is 16 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:13,319 Speaker 1: an alum of the University of Texas at Austin, where 17 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,480 Speaker 1: she earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and 18 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: Family Sciences. She completed her graduate studies at the University 19 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: of Houston and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Chicago 20 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:28,520 Speaker 1: Campus where she earned a master's degree in counseling and 21 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: doctorate in clinical psychology, respectively. Her dissertation focused on the 22 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: development of a program for survivors of sexual trauma who 23 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: are also women of African ancestry and is entitled Healing 24 00:01:42,200 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: in Love Light, a culturally santonic trauma sensitive Yoga program 25 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 1: Shena has also had the honor of working with children 26 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: and adults in community agencies and a number of college 27 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: counseling centers, including Northwestern University, the University of Chicago, and 28 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: California State University Long Beach. Currently, she enjoys working as 29 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: a staff psychologist for Counseling and Psychological Services at CSU Fullerton, 30 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: where she also serves as the Sexual Trauma Resource Coordinator 31 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: in the therapeutic space. Dr Young believes the relationship between 32 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: client and therapists is the anchor of the healing process. 33 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 1: Her work is rooted in existential, relational, and cultural theories, 34 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 1: which aims to understand how people meaningfully move through the world, 35 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: how they make meaning and suffering, and how they relate 36 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:41,600 Speaker 1: to self and others, while celebrating the intersections and beautiful 37 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 1: influence of culture. Today. Sheena and I discuss terminology relevant 38 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: to sexual assault. We also discussed some misunderstandings related to consent. 39 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 1: We discussed historical implications that sometimes shape reporting and treatment 40 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 1: of sexual assault, as well as the knee for culturally 41 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:06,040 Speaker 1: specific and trauma informed practices. China also shared a ton 42 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: of resources that are great for you to learn more. 43 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: If you're interested in learning more about this topic, you 44 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 1: can find all of the information that she shared in 45 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: the show notes at Therapy for Black Girls dot com 46 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: backslash Session nineteen. Thank you so much for joining me today, Shena. 47 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: Thank you. It's so nice to be here. I love 48 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: what you're doing and I'm excited to be a part 49 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: of it. Thank you. So, I'm very happy to have 50 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: you here today to talk about a topic that is 51 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: really important. UM. And I think that we don't address 52 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 1: often enough. UM. So today we're gonna be talking about 53 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: sexual trauma, UM in the black woman community. UM. And 54 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,240 Speaker 1: so I wanted to start with you maybe giving us 55 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: a definition of what sexual trauma is. Yes, for sure, 56 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: and UM, if you don't mind, I would love to 57 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 1: just invite given the topic. UM. I know sometimes it 58 00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: can be a little difficult to talk about this and 59 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:05,120 Speaker 1: to even here, So in recognizing the sensitivity of the conversation, 60 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 1: I would just like to invite your listeners to listen 61 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: to themselves and pay attention to what they need, which 62 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 1: might mean that they have to pick it up and 63 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: put it down to take care of themselves, and then 64 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: just resonate, noting noticing what resonates, so that they can 65 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: move intuitively in the next steps. My hope for our 66 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: conversation is that it's an opening force shift that information 67 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: can be shared with families and friends, because this is real, 68 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: as we know, and the pain is real. So I 69 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: just you know, whenever I'm talking about sexual trauma, especially 70 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: in communities of color, because we don't talk about it, 71 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: I like to begin with that. In terms of a 72 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: definition for sexual trauma, I like to think of it 73 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: as the aftermath of experiencing any sort of sexual assault, 74 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: sexual violation, and then the many ways in which being 75 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: violated in this way, the loss control, the loss of 76 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: power over oneself for their body manifests in all areas 77 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: of life, so mind, body, heart, and spirit. More specifically, 78 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:17,080 Speaker 1: sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior 79 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 1: that occurs without the explicit and enthusiastic consent of everyone involved, 80 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: so I always emphasize that explicit and enthusiastic consent of 81 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: everyone involved. So, for example, it's consenting while under the 82 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:38,960 Speaker 1: influence would not be considered explicit and enthusiastic consent. Sexual 83 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 1: assault can involve forced sexual intercourse. Sodomy can include child 84 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 1: molestation and abuse, incests or sexual abuse by a family member, fondling, 85 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 1: attempted or completed rate and it doesn't have to be 86 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:02,720 Speaker 1: forced necessarily, can be a course, sort of manipulative approach 87 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: to convincing someone to do something that they don't ultimately 88 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: want to do. Certainly, the definition varies by state, but 89 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 1: for the most part we see those themes consistent across 90 00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: the variations. And then rape can be anything including any 91 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: sexual intercourse including vaginal, anal, or oral penetration, penetration maybe 92 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: by a body part or an object, and can be 93 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: completed by unknown person or a stranger. Contrary to what 94 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: we see the myths in the community is that rapists 95 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: someone jumping out of a dark alley that you don't know, 96 00:06:41,880 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: But what is most common is being assaulted by a 97 00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: known person, a friend and acquaintance, a family member, or 98 00:06:49,960 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: an intimate partner. Okay, so you brought up a lot 99 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: of good points there. She and I knew we are 100 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: going to get into a lot more of the details. 101 00:06:57,839 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: But something I do want to make sure that we 102 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: have some clarity around is UM. You brought up the 103 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: word coercion, UM, and so I wonder if you could 104 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: give us some examples of what that looks like. Yes, So, 105 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 1: coercion is when someone convinces you or pressures you. When 106 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: we think about UM peer pressure, certainly we can all 107 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: reflect on a time when we were younger teenagers and 108 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: someone's like, well, everybody's doing it, or they might say, UM. 109 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: They may say if you don't do this, then you 110 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: don't love me, UM, or you must not love me 111 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,600 Speaker 1: because you won't do this, or someone else might will 112 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:39,400 Speaker 1: do this if you don't UM. So those are some 113 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 1: examples where people are using their power pressure, the sense 114 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: of intimacy and connection and trust in a way that 115 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: exploits the person that they're trying to convince to perform 116 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: this sexual act or to engage in um something that 117 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: they're not ready for. So it can be confusing in 118 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: the moment, in particular, if you're not aware of that 119 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: dynamic that can exist. Right. Yeah, I think that you know, oftentimes, 120 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 1: especially when we're dealing with younger women, that that is 121 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: not a conversation or a word that they've heard before, right, right, 122 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: And and just the idea that since we don't talk 123 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: about sex often in the black community or or sexual 124 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: abuse people, you know, it's it may be unfamiliar. And 125 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:31,880 Speaker 1: I think it gets even more complex when we consider 126 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: the cultural sort of messages and things that we get 127 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,680 Speaker 1: as black woman, you know, for example, not being able 128 00:08:38,720 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: to say no, that we are to serve or that 129 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: we're helpers and we take care of and so things 130 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 1: can get more complex in a situation where someone is 131 00:08:49,320 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: asking you or pressuring you or finessing you into doing 132 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: something that you don't want to do. So, can you 133 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,320 Speaker 1: give us any information that you may have around like 134 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:03,079 Speaker 1: the incident ends, and the stats around how often sexual 135 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:07,440 Speaker 1: trauma happens with black women. Yes, this gets tricky because 136 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: as we might imagine when research studies happened, you know, 137 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:18,200 Speaker 1: oftentimes black women and women of color are underrepresented in 138 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 1: these studies. But what I do have access to and 139 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 1: we'll learn that even there there's some gaps. General statistics 140 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 1: for American women suggests that one in six one in four, 141 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: and I've even heard as high as one in three 142 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:39,880 Speaker 1: American women have been raped in their lifetime. Similarly, one 143 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: in five Black women and some community samples have been 144 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:51,599 Speaker 1: rates in their lifetime. Um, this doesn't reflect unwanted sexual contact, molestation, 145 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: and other forms of sexual trauma. And while those numbers 146 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 1: seem high, because they are, it's likely that they don't 147 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 1: reflect the full truth and reality because as we know 148 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 1: and can imagine that Black women are under reporting these 149 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,760 Speaker 1: crimes to the legal system and even within their communities 150 00:10:15,800 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: for a lot of reasons. So it's it's difficult to 151 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 1: know exactly how prevalent um sexual trauma is within the 152 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: Black community, but overall, um, just because of the secrecy 153 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 1: and taboo nature of the topic. Yeah, and I wonder 154 00:10:33,080 --> 00:10:37,400 Speaker 1: if you have some ideas about, um, why the reporting 155 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: Maybe that's I mean, I know, just kind of across 156 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,360 Speaker 1: the board. It is oftentimes difficult for survivors to come 157 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,400 Speaker 1: forward and say they have been assaulted. Um, But I 158 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: wonder if you have ideas about why it maybe even 159 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 1: higher for Black women. Yes, So, while reports on violent 160 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: crimes do quickly reveal, as we discuss, that black women 161 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: are more likely to be victims of rape, they're less 162 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: likely not only to report their assaults and to seek 163 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: support or counseling services. For a black woman who is 164 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: brave enough to seek help, she's often met with being 165 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: re traumatized and that reporting or feeling re traumatized, for example, 166 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: being blamed for the sexual assault. What were you wearing? Um? 167 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,040 Speaker 1: We call that victim blaming or you know you probably 168 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: asked for it or did you say no? Those are 169 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: examples of things um and experiences that women are often 170 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: met with when they go to the police station to 171 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: report an incident of of sexual assault. Similarly, having to 172 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: retell the story over and over again in detail can 173 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:53,520 Speaker 1: be re traumatizing and then experiencing unequal treatment. I think, 174 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:57,440 Speaker 1: you know, it gets even deeper when we consider the 175 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: relationship of sexual assault and contemporary society and our history 176 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: of of as people of African descent women in particularly, 177 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: and then in the current context where we're seeing, we're 178 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 1: having we're seeing you know, so much in front of us. 179 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: It's very visible and tangible in terms of what the 180 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: world and American society thinks about us and our black 181 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: mail counterparts. And so when we have the the frequent 182 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: experience of seeing video of black men being murdered and 183 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: women being murdered on on video, and there is a 184 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: justice injustice in that and the result, why would we 185 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:50,040 Speaker 1: trust the legal system? So I think, you know, there's 186 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: a legal part, but then there's also the shame UM 187 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: and what if my family find out, what will they 188 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,719 Speaker 1: think and all of the things that you can imagine 189 00:12:59,760 --> 00:13:02,599 Speaker 1: that UM are connected to that. Yeah, I mean you 190 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:05,960 Speaker 1: definitely raise some good points there. UM. So in one 191 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: of our conversations and kind of preparing for today, you 192 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 1: mentioned something that I don't know that I hear often 193 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,440 Speaker 1: in talking about, like sexual trauma, and that's like the 194 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: impact of slavery and the historical origins of some of 195 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: that and how that also plays a role in like 196 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,640 Speaker 1: healing and survivorship for black women. Can you talk more 197 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 1: about that? Yes, definitely, UM. You know it was it's 198 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:33,800 Speaker 1: really important to me to understand history and the influence 199 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: of of history, this idea of sankofa UM not being 200 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:43,199 Speaker 1: afraid to look back at where you've come from UM 201 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,719 Speaker 1: and your past so that you can learn from it 202 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: and transcending in future and forward movement. So when I 203 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:56,319 Speaker 1: was in my doctoral program, I was really curious about 204 00:13:56,480 --> 00:14:00,080 Speaker 1: the history and the impact of history. I wanted to 205 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 1: know more about this, and you know, I think intuitively 206 00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: I had some understanding, um, But as I started to 207 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: read more and and explore thought leaders, you know, the 208 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: themes became really consistent and clear for me. We've seen 209 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:20,119 Speaker 1: the black woman be saturated with rejection and being degraded 210 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 1: and sexually objectified, raped forgotten. We've seen these this imagery, um, 211 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,960 Speaker 1: and it goes back to the period of enslavement. So 212 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: following centuries of rape under this institution of flavory, even 213 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 1: now we see that we're battling and and fighting against 214 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: this sort of tarnished image that people have of us 215 00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: or society. So I like the way. There's one author, 216 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:50,600 Speaker 1: Susan Brown Miller who wrote a book Against Our Will, Men, 217 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: Women and Rape, and she says, the American experience of 218 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: the slave South is a perfect study of rape and 219 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: all its complexities. For the black woman's sexual integrity was 220 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: deliberately crushed, and that rape and slavery was more than 221 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: a chance tool of violence, it was an institutional crime. 222 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: So she really speaks to the way that systemically, in 223 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: the laws and in the way that you know, people 224 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 1: were um using their power. Um, it just was the 225 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: way of the world. It was the way of the 226 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: of the society at that time. So sexual oppression, psychological abuse, 227 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: they were both used to enhance the labor force and 228 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: facilitated even forced reproduction. Enslaved men were then rewarded with 229 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: enslaved women after a hard day's work for sexual recreation. 230 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: And we were thought of as property and reduced to objects. 231 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:53,840 Speaker 1: Bell Hooks talks about this idea of of Black women 232 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: being objects, and she says, as objects, one's reality is 233 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:03,040 Speaker 1: defined by others, one's identity is created by others, and 234 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 1: one's history named only in ways that define the relationship 235 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: to those who are subject. So, in other words, we 236 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:14,080 Speaker 1: didn't have that opportunity. We didn't have freedom, we didn't 237 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: have choice. We were subject to who whatever people said 238 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 1: we were and whoever people said we were. Now, I 239 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 1: think it's interesting because this might be sounding familiar even 240 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: in seen. I think these experiences and our history have 241 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: been really influential in shaping the image of the black 242 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: woman for herself and the world. UM And ultimately, I 243 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: the way I like to describe it is that, UM, 244 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:50,920 Speaker 1: the history left imprints on our cultural heritage and and 245 00:16:51,160 --> 00:16:55,479 Speaker 1: even now UM contribute to common myths of rape, prevailing 246 00:16:55,520 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: images and stereotypes of the black woman, and and naturally 247 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:05,239 Speaker 1: within influence issues around reporting and help seeking. And I 248 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:08,840 Speaker 1: think one of the most damaging consequences is the culture 249 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:16,240 Speaker 1: of silence around sexual assault, sexual trauma, in childhood, sexual abuse. Certainly, 250 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: I'm inspired by the ways in which we are taking back, 251 00:17:21,240 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: naming ourselves and being self defining, but certainly there is 252 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 1: um a history that we can't deny. And I like 253 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: this conversation and in this angle because it can help 254 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 1: to provide a frame and context for some of the 255 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: ways that the world society perceives us UM that don't 256 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: feel inherently true to us. We know who we are, 257 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 1: but when we're combated with these images that have existed 258 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:56,720 Speaker 1: for so long, the work and the struggle is real. Yeah, 259 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: And I often find the most interesting part of that 260 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: being kind of like how those messages become internalized. Though 261 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: not only is it about like having to fight against 262 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 1: what other people think and say about us, but sometimes 263 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: we don't even know that we have internalized some of 264 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:17,479 Speaker 1: those messages for ourselves, right exactly. Yeah, And you know, 265 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: when I when I think of that. Sometimes it's easier 266 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: to make a point of you know, media and certain 267 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: things that we consume, music, news, the imagery, all of 268 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:33,879 Speaker 1: those things we we absorb. We're sponges and we're taking 269 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,880 Speaker 1: in all of that all the time. And it isn't 270 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: until we until we know we have reason to seek 271 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 1: understanding and a deeper truth that those things start to surface. 272 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:49,639 Speaker 1: But then there's also which I think is a spiritual gift. 273 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 1: It gets complicated, but ancestral memory, and what I mean 274 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: by that is the ways that traumatic experiences or our 275 00:18:59,040 --> 00:19:03,919 Speaker 1: collective story as in history are collective consciousness as people 276 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 1: of African descent and particularly black women, UM, who I 277 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: know to be very intuitive that those stories are passed 278 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: on through generations and through our lived experiences and through 279 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: our relationships and even in spirit. So sometimes that even 280 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: gets tangled and our personal beliefs about ourselves and hides away, 281 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:34,040 Speaker 1: gets tucked away inside until it emerges and we're like weight. 282 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: But ancestral memory can also be really powerful and protecting 283 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:44,480 Speaker 1: and um and helping us gain insight into our our 284 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: shadow sides. So yeah, it's complicated, yeah, and complicated, it 285 00:19:51,119 --> 00:19:53,239 Speaker 1: definitely is. And I know you've worked a lot with 286 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 1: college students, and so have I. So sometimes I find 287 00:19:57,040 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: the most disheartening conversations, um know, like when I talk 288 00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:04,639 Speaker 1: to young men and women about consent and in hearing 289 00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: that on both sides there really is confusion about what 290 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: consent means, right, you know, So sometimes I will do 291 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: an activity with them that talks about, um, do you 292 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:17,920 Speaker 1: think that two people can lie in the bed together 293 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: and not have anything happen? And you know, some of 294 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: the responses are are really shocking to me, like you know, like, well, 295 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,879 Speaker 1: of course something's going to happen, because why otherwise why 296 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:31,120 Speaker 1: would they be in there together? You know kind of thing, right, 297 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 1: the expectation that if we kick back, if someone invites 298 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 1: you over for Netflix and tacos, that it's not necessarily 299 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:47,119 Speaker 1: that it is not literal. They're expecting potentially that something 300 00:20:47,119 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: else is going to happen. And so even you know, 301 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 1: what you're saying, the coded language that that people have 302 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,640 Speaker 1: around um and the expectations that people have around sex, 303 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 1: and I think, you know interesting to me, given like 304 00:21:01,480 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: you said that we've both both worked with college students 305 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: that at that age the conversations are just potentially being started, 306 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 1: and so you know, I find that disheartening and and 307 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 1: unfortunate at times because I feel like there's so much 308 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: space and part of the healing that we have as 309 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:25,360 Speaker 1: a community is to figure out how to have these conversations, 310 00:21:25,359 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 1: how to remove ourselves, our fears out of the way 311 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: so that we can um equip our youth and our kids, 312 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:37,400 Speaker 1: UM in ways that are empowering and that protect them 313 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: as well. Yeah, and I wonder if you have any 314 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:44,960 Speaker 1: thoughts about um, like, why talking about these things is 315 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:47,199 Speaker 1: such a big deal. I mean again, I think you know, 316 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:50,440 Speaker 1: as a society, we don't do well talking about sex UM. 317 00:21:50,440 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: But it definitely feels like there is more shame, UM 318 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,720 Speaker 1: and more silence around sex and these kinds of issues 319 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,000 Speaker 1: in the black community. What are your thoughts about why 320 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:03,080 Speaker 1: that is? Yeah, Well, what I hear most often is 321 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: that when you if you talk about it, you're condoning it. Um, 322 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: You're permitting it, you're encouraging it. UM. If somehow you 323 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 1: have a conversation with your son or daughter about sex, 324 00:22:13,840 --> 00:22:16,720 Speaker 1: then you're giving them permission in the green light to 325 00:22:16,880 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: do so, which I don't believe that that's true. I 326 00:22:21,920 --> 00:22:27,440 Speaker 1: think talking opening a conversation means that you are creating 327 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 1: space and a in a different layer of trust and 328 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:35,880 Speaker 1: relationship with the child to come to you. You're creating 329 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: and opening for them to come to you if they 330 00:22:38,320 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: have any any questions. Because what we know we've all 331 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:44,600 Speaker 1: been teenagers, is just because it's not talked about doesn't 332 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: mean that we're not going to do it. And if 333 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,800 Speaker 1: it's not talked about, then we lead them to their 334 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,120 Speaker 1: own devices in the world. And what kind of information 335 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: will they get when they google and when they talked 336 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: to the their homemades at school. So you know, I 337 00:23:01,359 --> 00:23:05,560 Speaker 1: think that's one big thing, and and intergenerationally, as I 338 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: was just talking about, some people, some parents don't know 339 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:10,840 Speaker 1: how to talk about it because they didn't have the 340 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: conversation and so they don't know what to do or 341 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,120 Speaker 1: what to say. And so I think that shows up 342 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:24,360 Speaker 1: often as you mentioned, often sex is um interwoven with 343 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: this this idea of shame, and that gets tricky as well. 344 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,040 Speaker 1: So I think there's there are a lot of reasons, 345 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:36,280 Speaker 1: and when we add on layers and identities such as 346 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: religious beliefs and various ethnicities and cultures within the black community, 347 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,680 Speaker 1: it can get even more challenging. It can feel like 348 00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: more barriers exist to the conversation. Yeah, so I want 349 00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:53,600 Speaker 1: to switch gives a little bit to kind of talk about, 350 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,160 Speaker 1: you know, what it looks like for someone who has 351 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,840 Speaker 1: been sexually traumatized? Um, and wonder if you could walk 352 00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: us through, you know, like, let's say, Um, somebody has 353 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: been sexually assaulted and they finally work up the nerve 354 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: to make an appointment with you, Um, what kinds of 355 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: things would you talk with them about maybe in those 356 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 1: first couple of sessions, Like what would your work look 357 00:24:14,359 --> 00:24:18,359 Speaker 1: like with that person? Yes? Thank you? So you know 358 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: it's this isn't an easy conversation to have. Even you know, 359 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:27,800 Speaker 1: as I'm talking with you, I'm aware how big the 360 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 1: topic is. What I enjoy talking about on this topic 361 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 1: is related to the gaps that I've seen in the field. 362 00:24:37,320 --> 00:24:41,119 Speaker 1: So not only is it a taboo topic in general society, 363 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:45,040 Speaker 1: but I've seen and I've been in circles where even 364 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:50,160 Speaker 1: within the helping field, people avoid questions around sexual trauma. 365 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:54,439 Speaker 1: And then if it goes beyond there, we typically have 366 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:59,480 Speaker 1: a more of a leaning towards westernized beliefs and value systems, 367 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:04,359 Speaker 1: or you're eccentric beliefs and value systems which emphasized talk 368 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: therapy and emphasizes the ways that life and lived experiences 369 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: impact the mind. And in my opinion and my experience, 370 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:17,359 Speaker 1: and doing this work that minimizes and excludes the whole 371 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: person and their lived experience. It minimizes UM context, culture, 372 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,639 Speaker 1: UM identities, and as we talked about earlier, the historical influences. 373 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 1: So as I started to realize this UM and my 374 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: my development as a clinician, it became really important to 375 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: me to address the whole person. And so I like 376 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:44,240 Speaker 1: to think about the impact of sexual trauma from a mind, body, heart, 377 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 1: and spirit perspective, so I can dive into that UM. 378 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: I can talk about this for day's joy, So please 379 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,200 Speaker 1: please jump in at any time. I'll, you know, give 380 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,400 Speaker 1: some examples of each of those areas as I've seen 381 00:25:59,440 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 1: it in my work. So where the mind is concerned, 382 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 1: that might be what most people are familiar about, are 383 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:10,639 Speaker 1: familiar with, especially when they make the decision to initiate 384 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 1: help through UM, individual or group therapy. So trauma shows 385 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: up in the mind through our beliefs and untruths. I 386 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: believe as a clinician my role is to reflect truth. 387 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: We come people come in with all of these distortions 388 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:31,840 Speaker 1: and these um, these things that they've picked up, these ideas, 389 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:36,360 Speaker 1: these beliefs that have been handed to them in relationships 390 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: with people and lived experiences UM, and then even in 391 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: their their own journeys. So a survivor can come to 392 00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: believe things that were communicated to her directly during the 393 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 1: sexual assault, navigating a legal system, or in their help 394 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:56,160 Speaker 1: seeking and communication with family, in their own personal thoughts, 395 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 1: for example, that they somehow deserved it, that they provoked 396 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:04,920 Speaker 1: it or attracted the sexual assault, that no one will 397 00:27:04,960 --> 00:27:07,680 Speaker 1: believe them if they say something, that no one will 398 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 1: want to be with them intimately, or that they can't 399 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:14,919 Speaker 1: survive this. And so where the mind is concerned, this 400 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,480 Speaker 1: may show up as symptoms of depression or anxiety UM, 401 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 1: post traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, over or under eating, 402 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: self harm, and even contemplation of suicide. The other side 403 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: of this, and what I see often in the black community, 404 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: is an attempt to forget it happened, to push it down, 405 00:27:37,240 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: sweep it under the rug, and then to practice denial. 406 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 1: And that's a survival tool. That's something that you know, 407 00:27:45,880 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 1: oftentimes we learn as children. You know, don't cry don't 408 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:52,720 Speaker 1: you know, ignore this sweeping under the rug. There is 409 00:27:52,840 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 1: no there, oftentimes in a space for any emotional experience 410 00:27:57,320 --> 00:28:01,360 Speaker 1: or acknowledgement. I've heard all of those things and more 411 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 1: and and consistently, But one story of the survivor stuck 412 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:08,840 Speaker 1: with me. She said that during the assault, I was thinking, 413 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:12,120 Speaker 1: just let me get out alive, and after the assault, 414 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,360 Speaker 1: she was thinking, just let me die. And so it's 415 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: an example that you know, the pain is so much 416 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:23,080 Speaker 1: so that life is no longer worth living. And it's 417 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,640 Speaker 1: the truth of how dark it can feel after such 418 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:30,160 Speaker 1: an experience. And so my role in is to whole 419 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:34,680 Speaker 1: space for all of that, all of the truth um 420 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:38,600 Speaker 1: and the untruths, and to help a woman see herself 421 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:44,160 Speaker 1: and separate from the things that she may have internalized 422 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: from the abuse, to recreate, re author a story that 423 00:28:49,120 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: allows her to acknowledge what happened, but to separate it 424 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:56,680 Speaker 1: from who she is. So that's one part of the experience. 425 00:28:57,440 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: What I have made my life's work about is acknowledging 426 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 1: the impact on the body, which I find is the 427 00:29:06,800 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: most neglected area and sexual trauma. It's what I mean 428 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:14,560 Speaker 1: is the way the trauma physically manifests and impacts a 429 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:18,920 Speaker 1: survivor's relationship with her body. There is growing interests in 430 00:29:18,920 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: this area, but still the emphasis tends to be on 431 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:31,000 Speaker 1: talk therapy. I think it's very counterintuitive to work only 432 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:34,560 Speaker 1: with the mind when the trauma has happened to the body. 433 00:29:34,600 --> 00:29:38,760 Speaker 1: So one author, Babbitt Rothschild, talks about her She has 434 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: a book called The Body Remembers, and she talks about 435 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:47,400 Speaker 1: how the body is a crime scene um essentially, and 436 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: so you're in this body where this horrific violation happened, 437 00:29:53,000 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: and you're in this body all the time. UM. It's 438 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:59,120 Speaker 1: different from being in a car accident on the corner 439 00:29:59,160 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 1: of A and Z stree. Every time you drive you 440 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 1: get approached A and Z street, you might find yourself 441 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:09,040 Speaker 1: getting nervous, your heart racing, et cetera. But when your 442 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: trauma has happened to your body, UM, it can feel 443 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:18,520 Speaker 1: like you're in a chronic and persistent state of angst 444 00:30:18,560 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: and hyper vigilance, as if you're still even in the 445 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:24,880 Speaker 1: moment of the sexual assault. And then it gets even 446 00:30:24,960 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: more tricky when you've experienced multiple trauma. It's not just 447 00:30:29,600 --> 00:30:33,840 Speaker 1: sexual sexual trauma, but um multiple traumas. So where the 448 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:39,200 Speaker 1: body is concerned you might have UM physical symptoms. Research 449 00:30:39,240 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 1: studies tell us that rape victims in particular notice physical 450 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 1: health changes in their body and a change in their 451 00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 1: well being more than you know the average woman within 452 00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 1: a month after the assault, and that shows up in 453 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: different ways. Some examples are stomach pain, said reflux, headaches, 454 00:31:02,520 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: heart or chest pain, shortness of breath, sleep problems, numbing, 455 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:13,800 Speaker 1: tingling in the body, pain during intercourse, gynecological issues, and 456 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: even changes in their periods. And likewise, on a physiological level, 457 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 1: this is the part of our body, our brain that 458 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: tells us when we're experiencing a threat to our fight 459 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,400 Speaker 1: or flight response, and when we experience the trauma are 460 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 1: sympathetic nervous system UM kicks in, tells us to run 461 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:40,720 Speaker 1: or sometimes people freeze and or to fight. And so 462 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: what I often see are people getting stuck here. I 463 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: call it the high zone. So that can materialize as 464 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: anxiety here, memories and flashbacks that just sort of forced 465 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:56,440 Speaker 1: their way into the mind. And then the opposite is 466 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:00,400 Speaker 1: the low zone, where someone can UM feel really hired, 467 00:32:00,640 --> 00:32:05,040 Speaker 1: have low energy, UM depresses and symptoms um or may 468 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:10,240 Speaker 1: check out altogether. And so my approach to working with 469 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,560 Speaker 1: the body. Um, I'm a trauma informed the yoga teacher 470 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: as well, and I incorporate yoga that gives people space 471 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: to make choices with their bodies in ways that sort 472 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:27,840 Speaker 1: of neutralized the sympathetic nervous system that helped them to 473 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: establish a restored sense of safety in their bodies. And 474 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:35,120 Speaker 1: I find often that when people don't have the words 475 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:39,160 Speaker 1: for what happened, that the body comes forward and is 476 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: able to communicate and then the words follow. So those 477 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:45,880 Speaker 1: are two areas I know I said a lot. Did 478 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:50,080 Speaker 1: you have any questions before I jump into heart and spirit? Yeah, 479 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: I do want you to one, UM, tell us more 480 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: about what that means to be a trauma informed yoga teacher. Yes, 481 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:01,480 Speaker 1: thank you so much for that question. So, uh, Trauma 482 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:06,440 Speaker 1: informed is an ideology that exists in the helping field, 483 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:10,360 Speaker 1: is not unique to yoga, and what it means is 484 00:33:10,400 --> 00:33:15,120 Speaker 1: that the people that are facilitating healing spaces are considering 485 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:19,440 Speaker 1: and sensitive to the ways in which trauma impacts a 486 00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:25,000 Speaker 1: person's experience in the world. So one tangible example is 487 00:33:25,560 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 1: when someone has been attacked. For example, if you walk 488 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:34,040 Speaker 1: up behind them, it may be really startling for them. So, UM, 489 00:33:34,080 --> 00:33:37,960 Speaker 1: being sensitive to those sort of triggers that can happen. 490 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:41,400 Speaker 1: So and trauma informed Yoga some of the key tenants 491 00:33:41,400 --> 00:33:44,920 Speaker 1: are using invitational language. We spend a lot of time 492 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,600 Speaker 1: being told what to do, how to be, how to 493 00:33:47,920 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: you know, um, how to exist in the world. And 494 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:54,320 Speaker 1: when we think about survivors of sexual trauma, they've lost 495 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: their power and control over their their body and over 496 00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:02,360 Speaker 1: their choice. So a trauma and formed yoga class, the 497 00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:07,360 Speaker 1: instructor myself or in a session, I'm using language like, 498 00:34:07,960 --> 00:34:10,719 Speaker 1: you know, maybe it feels good to or what would 499 00:34:10,760 --> 00:34:13,719 Speaker 1: it be like to explore? I invite you to as 500 00:34:13,719 --> 00:34:17,040 Speaker 1: opposed to do this, do that, move into this pose. 501 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:22,319 Speaker 1: It gives opportunities for a survivor to move deeper into 502 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:28,080 Speaker 1: oppose or not it. UM really is about an opportunity 503 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,799 Speaker 1: in safe space to make choices in a way that 504 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:36,840 Speaker 1: they didn't have in the the traumatic experience and also 505 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:40,480 Speaker 1: that they may not you know, feel confident in in 506 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 1: the world. So those are just a few of the highlights. Similarly, 507 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 1: you know, turning the lights off suddenly or using certain 508 00:34:48,640 --> 00:34:53,600 Speaker 1: sense could be triggering for a survivor UM. But ultimately 509 00:34:53,640 --> 00:34:57,080 Speaker 1: it's about facilitating a space where a survivor has UM 510 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:01,000 Speaker 1: practice and making choices. So one examp bowl during a 511 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,319 Speaker 1: first encounter, I might see I may offer some a 512 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:08,239 Speaker 1: few choices for them to take, and they have a 513 00:35:08,239 --> 00:35:11,560 Speaker 1: hard time making that choice. It can be something like, 514 00:35:12,440 --> 00:35:15,560 Speaker 1: you know, in a seated position, UM, maybe closing the 515 00:35:15,640 --> 00:35:19,400 Speaker 1: eyes or keeping the eyes open. You see them struggle 516 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:23,560 Speaker 1: with that because they're not used to tapping into the 517 00:35:23,600 --> 00:35:26,160 Speaker 1: inside and what their intuition is telling them they need 518 00:35:26,200 --> 00:35:29,720 Speaker 1: in the moment. And after some work, I've seen people 519 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 1: just sort of come in, sit down, and they move 520 00:35:33,000 --> 00:35:36,000 Speaker 1: into a pose that feels good for them without any 521 00:35:36,239 --> 00:35:40,840 Speaker 1: UM guidance for me, And they report then outside of 522 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:45,320 Speaker 1: the therapy space that they're noticing more confidence and assertiveness 523 00:35:45,520 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: in making choices UM in their day to day life 524 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:53,440 Speaker 1: and particularly with their body. So no, I don't want that, 525 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:56,279 Speaker 1: or even a little to the left, a little to 526 00:35:56,360 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 1: the right and intimate experiences. They're feeling more powered and 527 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:04,759 Speaker 1: emboldened to communicate what their boundaries are. Okay, okay, And 528 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:06,919 Speaker 1: I don't know if you are going to share more 529 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:09,960 Speaker 1: about what this looks like UM, but I'm very curious 530 00:36:10,080 --> 00:36:15,439 Speaker 1: about UM, like just how the the yoga piece then 531 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,920 Speaker 1: allows the language to follow. So I'm not sure if 532 00:36:17,920 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 1: you're going to go into more of that or if 533 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:22,280 Speaker 1: you want to spend some time sharing that now. Yeah, 534 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: so you know, it never looks the same. What I 535 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:33,040 Speaker 1: can say most often happens is I'll meet with someone 536 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:37,040 Speaker 1: who you know in a pre and you know, a 537 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:40,080 Speaker 1: meeting where we're just trying to get to know each other. 538 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm talking about what therapy can be like and um 539 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:46,960 Speaker 1: answering any questions, just getting to know a little bit 540 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:50,319 Speaker 1: more about their history. I'll find that our survivor has 541 00:36:50,360 --> 00:36:56,680 Speaker 1: a really hard time just describing or stating that something happened. UM. 542 00:36:56,719 --> 00:37:00,560 Speaker 1: They're not able to use the word sexual assault or rape, 543 00:37:00,800 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 1: or sometimes they can write it down. Sometimes they don't 544 00:37:04,719 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: even report a sexual assault or a trauma. They just 545 00:37:08,560 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 1: say that something happened to me, UM that I didn't 546 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:13,319 Speaker 1: want to happen when I was a kid or when 547 00:37:13,360 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: I was a teenager. In this relationship that I'm currently in, 548 00:37:17,640 --> 00:37:23,319 Speaker 1: and through a yoga practice with therapy and sometimes just 549 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:28,719 Speaker 1: with with yoga in a therapeutic space, as people are 550 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:32,839 Speaker 1: given more options as I mentioned, and with the combination 551 00:37:32,960 --> 00:37:40,120 Speaker 1: of exploring different themes within yoga, for example, boundaries, setting boundaries, assertiveness, 552 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:46,360 Speaker 1: personal choice, connection with whatever higher power they believe in, 553 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:50,640 Speaker 1: relationships with family, and how those can change. Just in 554 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:54,840 Speaker 1: sort of reflecting on those things that exist as a 555 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,799 Speaker 1: as related to experiencing a sexual trauma, the areas of 556 00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:02,279 Speaker 1: life that are impacted, in addition to the opportunities to 557 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:06,720 Speaker 1: make choices in the yoga practice. And let's not underestimate 558 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:10,880 Speaker 1: that the brain, when it gets stuck in that higher 559 00:38:11,000 --> 00:38:15,800 Speaker 1: low zone, it's sometimes that impact literally impacts the speech center. 560 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 1: So we can think about how in someone in the 561 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:22,120 Speaker 1: moment is experiencing any sort of trauma, they freeze, They 562 00:38:22,120 --> 00:38:24,920 Speaker 1: don't have the words that they can't say help, they 563 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:28,040 Speaker 1: can't say no because they're in that freeze mode, the 564 00:38:28,080 --> 00:38:31,640 Speaker 1: brain shuts down. So if they get stuck there in 565 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,480 Speaker 1: their lives, it can be really difficult then to have 566 00:38:34,560 --> 00:38:38,280 Speaker 1: the words. So once we're you know, restoring that balance 567 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:41,360 Speaker 1: in the brain, the physiology, we're talking through themes that 568 00:38:41,400 --> 00:38:45,080 Speaker 1: are related to the sexual trauma, and they're physically moving 569 00:38:45,120 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 1: their bodies and ways that empower them to make choices, 570 00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:51,319 Speaker 1: we start to see the language just start. It just 571 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:54,520 Speaker 1: starts to unfold. So they may come in one day 572 00:38:54,560 --> 00:38:57,920 Speaker 1: and say I was raped and this is the first 573 00:38:57,920 --> 00:39:00,680 Speaker 1: time that I'm saying this, but it's important for me 574 00:39:00,760 --> 00:39:03,600 Speaker 1: to call it what it was um or they'll write 575 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:07,840 Speaker 1: a letter describing what happened, and they'll read it in session, 576 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:11,400 Speaker 1: or they'll ask me to read it with them, and 577 00:39:11,440 --> 00:39:14,400 Speaker 1: it's the first time that they've ever said anything about 578 00:39:14,960 --> 00:39:18,200 Speaker 1: UM or said the details or acknowledge what has happened. 579 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:20,719 Speaker 1: So it's it's kind of I know, you can probably 580 00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:25,120 Speaker 1: relate joy to that that magical something that happens in 581 00:39:25,200 --> 00:39:30,000 Speaker 1: therapy that you can't quite describe UM, but in lived experiences, 582 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:34,120 Speaker 1: it's it's real and tangible in the moment. Some things 583 00:39:34,160 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 1: are you know, a mystery I find in this work, 584 00:39:37,520 --> 00:39:40,759 Speaker 1: and I think that that's a beautiful UM part of 585 00:39:40,760 --> 00:39:45,400 Speaker 1: the healing process. Yeah, absolutely, And it definitely sounds like 586 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:48,560 Speaker 1: it unfolds in the way that it's supposed to UM. 587 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:51,680 Speaker 1: And I think often when we talk about like holding space, 588 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,839 Speaker 1: that is a beautiful illustration of it, right, like not 589 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,440 Speaker 1: rushing into getting details and you know, kind of feeling 590 00:39:58,480 --> 00:40:01,879 Speaker 1: like that is the important part of the work, Yes, exactly. 591 00:40:02,480 --> 00:40:05,960 Speaker 1: And and following the lead of the person who is 592 00:40:06,520 --> 00:40:11,320 Speaker 1: UM ultimately responsible for their own healing UM as opposed 593 00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:16,279 Speaker 1: to having an agenda and uh you know away uh 594 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:21,960 Speaker 1: cookie cutter way of addressing UM a really sensitive issue. UM. 595 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:26,160 Speaker 1: So I agree with you and that Yeah, okay, so 596 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:28,000 Speaker 1: I know you were going to move on now to 597 00:40:28,360 --> 00:40:30,920 Speaker 1: UM the heart and spirit really, yes, they need to 598 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:35,279 Speaker 1: get hit me a track. UM. So heart is I 599 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:40,120 Speaker 1: think one of the places that UM stands out, UM, 600 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:45,640 Speaker 1: particularly in my work with women of color. UM. For me, 601 00:40:45,760 --> 00:40:51,120 Speaker 1: the heart represents relationships. And so when we come from 602 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:55,400 Speaker 1: a you know, a community that is really about connecting 603 00:40:55,520 --> 00:41:00,759 Speaker 1: and family and friends, UM, the heart gets really it 604 00:41:00,760 --> 00:41:05,800 Speaker 1: becomes a really important conversation. So. UM. Because sexual trauma 605 00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:09,800 Speaker 1: is a relational and a trauma that happens between people, 606 00:41:10,480 --> 00:41:14,839 Speaker 1: something horrific and violating that happens. UM. This can show 607 00:41:14,920 --> 00:41:18,360 Speaker 1: up in a way in ways that a survivor relates 608 00:41:18,360 --> 00:41:22,400 Speaker 1: to herself and others. So I often see this in 609 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:26,920 Speaker 1: themes of mistrust of others. They don't trust anyone, or 610 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:29,280 Speaker 1: they don't trust all men, or they don't trust all women. 611 00:41:29,920 --> 00:41:36,319 Speaker 1: Social withdrawal withdrawal, They'll isolate, they may experience loneliness. No 612 00:41:36,360 --> 00:41:39,000 Speaker 1: one understands what I'm going through. No one else has 613 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:43,319 Speaker 1: been through this. I'm a burden to other people. It 614 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:48,240 Speaker 1: may lead them to mistrust their intuition, to experience self hatred, 615 00:41:48,840 --> 00:41:54,280 Speaker 1: and ultimately can impact how they engage with others. And 616 00:41:54,680 --> 00:41:57,319 Speaker 1: I think, you know, one way that I see this 617 00:41:57,480 --> 00:42:01,160 Speaker 1: happen is that when a survivor some and a woman 618 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:06,040 Speaker 1: or a child who has experienced this sexual traumasexual assault, 619 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:09,839 Speaker 1: child abuse, whatever the experience, that they go to tell 620 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:12,839 Speaker 1: someone that they trust with the hope that they're going 621 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:18,960 Speaker 1: to be supported and held and they're not believed by 622 00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:24,160 Speaker 1: that person, or they're rejected that they are told that 623 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:27,560 Speaker 1: didn't happen, that you must have deserved it, what did 624 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:31,000 Speaker 1: what did you do to deserve it? Or that's your father, 625 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:36,400 Speaker 1: how could you say that? Or you're married, um, rape 626 00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:41,160 Speaker 1: doesn't happen in in marriages. UM. Whatever is communicated between 627 00:42:41,200 --> 00:42:46,920 Speaker 1: those two people can then be internalized and obviously can 628 00:42:47,120 --> 00:42:50,720 Speaker 1: rea havoc in the mind of the survivor, but can 629 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:56,120 Speaker 1: create lasting ruptures in in relationships overall. So I think 630 00:42:56,200 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 1: that one is is really important. And I think being 631 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:03,600 Speaker 1: in there therapy, when the therapist and the client is 632 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:07,720 Speaker 1: connected and there's a safety in the relationship. I believe 633 00:43:07,880 --> 00:43:11,560 Speaker 1: healing happens in relationship, So I'm having a space where 634 00:43:11,600 --> 00:43:15,080 Speaker 1: they can explore these themes and in a relationship that 635 00:43:15,239 --> 00:43:18,719 Speaker 1: is safe where someone does believe what they're saying, can 636 00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:23,360 Speaker 1: allow them to um practice in moments of vulnerability and 637 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:27,920 Speaker 1: trusting their intuition as well. And then the last area 638 00:43:28,239 --> 00:43:33,960 Speaker 1: is spirit, which is a person's relationship with a higher power, 639 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 1: with God, with source, higher Self, whatever that might be 640 00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:43,880 Speaker 1: for the individual. And oftentimes I see that relationship being 641 00:43:44,280 --> 00:43:49,360 Speaker 1: compromised or or hurt, and that a survivor might feel 642 00:43:49,400 --> 00:43:53,879 Speaker 1: like the sexual trauma was being punished or abandoned by God. 643 00:43:54,120 --> 00:43:56,719 Speaker 1: So I'll hear people say, well, you know, I used 644 00:43:56,760 --> 00:43:59,840 Speaker 1: to believe in God, but I don't. I don't believe 645 00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:02,200 Speaker 1: in God now, or I don't know if God exists, 646 00:44:02,239 --> 00:44:05,279 Speaker 1: because if God exists, how could this have happened to me? 647 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,400 Speaker 1: How could he allow this to happen to me? And 648 00:44:10,000 --> 00:44:13,440 Speaker 1: naturally that would then affect a person's sense of hopelessness 649 00:44:13,480 --> 00:44:16,399 Speaker 1: and um or a sense of hope and have them 650 00:44:16,400 --> 00:44:20,760 Speaker 1: to feel hopeless or worthless. They may experience the loss 651 00:44:20,800 --> 00:44:24,719 Speaker 1: of purpose and and disconnect with um, their work, their 652 00:44:24,760 --> 00:44:29,040 Speaker 1: life's work, and can sometimes just feel aimless and their 653 00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:32,839 Speaker 1: life direction altogether. And so I think, you know, that's 654 00:44:32,880 --> 00:44:37,320 Speaker 1: an important part of the healing conversation as well, can 655 00:44:37,360 --> 00:44:41,480 Speaker 1: considering a person's relationship with their spirit. So with all 656 00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:45,240 Speaker 1: of those things in mind, that becomes my my guide, 657 00:44:45,440 --> 00:44:48,479 Speaker 1: my road map for working with someone, and I think 658 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:52,720 Speaker 1: all of them are equally important. And um, I've seen 659 00:44:53,080 --> 00:44:57,920 Speaker 1: really transformative experiences when people are able to feel safe 660 00:44:57,960 --> 00:45:01,440 Speaker 1: and show up in in a space in these ways. Yeah, 661 00:45:01,680 --> 00:45:05,080 Speaker 1: I mean this sounds like a very comprehensive approachinga I mean, 662 00:45:05,239 --> 00:45:07,680 Speaker 1: it does really feel like it respects all of the 663 00:45:07,760 --> 00:45:10,920 Speaker 1: ways that this impacts, like all of the different areas 664 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:15,600 Speaker 1: of your life. Yeah. Yeah, And I I'm definitely led 665 00:45:15,640 --> 00:45:20,120 Speaker 1: by my own experiences in life. I think, you know, 666 00:45:20,760 --> 00:45:24,759 Speaker 1: to me, the best therapists or those that acknowledge their shadows, right, 667 00:45:25,200 --> 00:45:29,000 Speaker 1: and those that can relate to the struggles whatever they 668 00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:32,240 Speaker 1: might be. And it doesn't feel good to me when 669 00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:34,759 Speaker 1: you know, people only hear part of my truth, right, 670 00:45:34,800 --> 00:45:37,080 Speaker 1: and they don't consider who I am as a whole person, 671 00:45:37,560 --> 00:45:41,120 Speaker 1: And so I really just try to mirror and reflect 672 00:45:41,600 --> 00:45:44,120 Speaker 1: that back in any space that I hold in, in in 673 00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:48,840 Speaker 1: any relationship that someone is sharing their their trust and 674 00:45:48,920 --> 00:45:53,719 Speaker 1: vulnerability with me. Okay, so, is there anything more you 675 00:45:53,760 --> 00:45:58,600 Speaker 1: want to share about, like specific interventions or things UM 676 00:45:58,680 --> 00:46:01,799 Speaker 1: that you you find have been really helpful to help 677 00:46:01,840 --> 00:46:06,240 Speaker 1: women kind of walk through this. I think so one 678 00:46:06,719 --> 00:46:10,560 Speaker 1: when I was in my doctoral program, I created a 679 00:46:10,680 --> 00:46:14,959 Speaker 1: program for First, I sort of did a survey UM 680 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:19,640 Speaker 1: a market analysis of existing treatment programs UM for survivors. 681 00:46:20,040 --> 00:46:25,799 Speaker 1: I was particularly concerned with what programs existed that considers 682 00:46:25,840 --> 00:46:29,719 Speaker 1: the unique experience of being a black woman, or that 683 00:46:29,840 --> 00:46:35,160 Speaker 1: have UM culturally sensitive approaches, culturally informed the ways that 684 00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:40,239 Speaker 1: you know being black and the intersections being female, how 685 00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:44,480 Speaker 1: that impacts a survivor. Were their treatment programs that had 686 00:46:44,719 --> 00:46:48,840 Speaker 1: approaches that were culturally grounded? And second, were the approaches 687 00:46:49,040 --> 00:46:54,040 Speaker 1: that consider the body or any sort of creative intervention. 688 00:46:54,120 --> 00:46:59,200 Speaker 1: I think we're a really creative, beautiful people, and you know, 689 00:46:59,280 --> 00:47:01,600 Speaker 1: when we are in our truest um, we're also a 690 00:47:01,680 --> 00:47:04,439 Speaker 1: tune to our body. So I wanted to know if 691 00:47:04,480 --> 00:47:07,360 Speaker 1: those existed, and at the time, there were not a 692 00:47:07,400 --> 00:47:10,720 Speaker 1: lot of programs as you would imagine that incorporated both. 693 00:47:11,120 --> 00:47:14,680 Speaker 1: So I created a program UM that's called Healing and 694 00:47:14,719 --> 00:47:19,520 Speaker 1: Love and Light. From that research that bridges those gaps, 695 00:47:20,120 --> 00:47:24,799 Speaker 1: and it is a combination of trauma informed yoga and 696 00:47:25,280 --> 00:47:29,760 Speaker 1: group the group therapy support group for survivors of African descent. 697 00:47:30,280 --> 00:47:35,200 Speaker 1: And what I was particularly inspired by in this program 698 00:47:35,280 --> 00:47:40,640 Speaker 1: and creating the program was the theory of Africana Womanism, 699 00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:44,600 Speaker 1: which was created by Glenora Hudson Wims, and she really 700 00:47:44,640 --> 00:47:47,640 Speaker 1: speaks to the way that we've been denied the authority 701 00:47:47,680 --> 00:47:51,120 Speaker 1: of naming and defining ourselves. So then the work is 702 00:47:51,200 --> 00:47:55,160 Speaker 1: center in the group on seeking, knowing, and living in 703 00:47:55,280 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: our personal and embodied truth. And that's the name of 704 00:47:59,640 --> 00:48:05,799 Speaker 1: my my practice, Embody Truth Healing. So ultimately, this program 705 00:48:05,840 --> 00:48:10,480 Speaker 1: that you know, is arranged around themes that are unique 706 00:48:10,600 --> 00:48:14,279 Speaker 1: to women of African descent UM who have survived a 707 00:48:14,360 --> 00:48:19,080 Speaker 1: sexual trauma, for example, being a self definer, sisterhood, being 708 00:48:19,120 --> 00:48:22,799 Speaker 1: in community, um, relationship with the higher power. All of 709 00:48:22,800 --> 00:48:26,839 Speaker 1: the things that we've been mentioning today are in you know, 710 00:48:27,280 --> 00:48:31,839 Speaker 1: integrated in the program throughout and I look forward to 711 00:48:31,960 --> 00:48:36,440 Speaker 1: being able to offer that program to communities because as 712 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:39,399 Speaker 1: I've seen in the work that I'm doing, it can 713 00:48:39,440 --> 00:48:43,400 Speaker 1: be really powerful and I think, you know, as a 714 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:47,440 Speaker 1: as a clinician in this field, and with the gifts 715 00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:50,560 Speaker 1: that I'm very um humble to have, I believe it's 716 00:48:50,600 --> 00:48:54,560 Speaker 1: it is of urgent importance that we create our own 717 00:48:54,600 --> 00:48:58,359 Speaker 1: criteria for assessing our realities, and that we do this 718 00:48:58,560 --> 00:49:03,120 Speaker 1: in thought action, in whatever we're creating, and in our 719 00:49:03,200 --> 00:49:07,840 Speaker 1: own healing experiences. And so I'm you know, always happy 720 00:49:07,880 --> 00:49:12,440 Speaker 1: to have conversations about that as well. Wonderful. So you 721 00:49:12,520 --> 00:49:16,040 Speaker 1: have already kind of sprinkled lots of resources throughout your 722 00:49:16,520 --> 00:49:20,160 Speaker 1: conversation today, But I wonder if there are like specific 723 00:49:20,280 --> 00:49:23,719 Speaker 1: books or blogs or articles or things, um that we 724 00:49:23,760 --> 00:49:26,520 Speaker 1: can include in the show notes that you find that 725 00:49:26,640 --> 00:49:33,359 Speaker 1: like clients really like. Yes, So one online Resources rain 726 00:49:33,560 --> 00:49:37,400 Speaker 1: It's a website and it's rape rain Stands for Rape, 727 00:49:37,440 --> 00:49:41,600 Speaker 1: Abuse and Incest National Network, and I can send these 728 00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:44,520 Speaker 1: over to you as well. It's the nation's largest sexual 729 00:49:44,600 --> 00:49:48,800 Speaker 1: violence org. Provides information for survivors who are thinking about 730 00:49:48,800 --> 00:49:52,080 Speaker 1: getting help and for those who are actively seeking help. 731 00:49:52,640 --> 00:49:55,880 Speaker 1: And also for example, it gives you examples of what 732 00:49:56,000 --> 00:49:59,080 Speaker 1: to do following a sexual trauma, how to preserve and 733 00:49:59,120 --> 00:50:04,440 Speaker 1: collect evidence following the assault. That website is Centers dot 734 00:50:04,440 --> 00:50:09,040 Speaker 1: reign dot org. Also, there is a National Sexual Assault 735 00:50:09,080 --> 00:50:12,640 Speaker 1: Hotline where people can call and speak with someone anonymously 736 00:50:12,800 --> 00:50:16,640 Speaker 1: and ask questions or you know, be connected with the resource. 737 00:50:16,920 --> 00:50:20,680 Speaker 1: That number is one eight hundred six five six hope 738 00:50:21,000 --> 00:50:24,120 Speaker 1: h O P E. And then I have I do 739 00:50:24,239 --> 00:50:27,640 Speaker 1: have a list of books that I'm happy to provide 740 00:50:28,200 --> 00:50:32,160 Speaker 1: there is there are books about trauma informed yoga that 741 00:50:32,400 --> 00:50:36,520 Speaker 1: someone practicing in the helping field and also for a 742 00:50:36,560 --> 00:50:41,120 Speaker 1: survivor herself can use. And I can just uh, we'll 743 00:50:41,160 --> 00:50:43,600 Speaker 1: follow up and I'll send you a list of things 744 00:50:43,600 --> 00:50:48,520 Speaker 1: that have been helpful to some of my clients and UM, 745 00:50:48,600 --> 00:50:52,160 Speaker 1: and we'll take it from there. Should I also share 746 00:50:52,440 --> 00:50:56,600 Speaker 1: my personal contact information in case that might be helpful? Yes? 747 00:50:56,680 --> 00:50:58,840 Speaker 1: And where can we find you, like your website or 748 00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:02,759 Speaker 1: any social media those you'd like to share? Okay, so UM. 749 00:51:02,800 --> 00:51:06,960 Speaker 1: As I mentioned earlier, my practice is Embodied Truth Healing 750 00:51:07,480 --> 00:51:10,560 Speaker 1: UM and I can be found on Instagram at Embodied 751 00:51:10,560 --> 00:51:13,440 Speaker 1: Truth Healing E M B O D I E D 752 00:51:14,040 --> 00:51:17,640 Speaker 1: Truth Healing all one word and my website is the 753 00:51:17,719 --> 00:51:23,919 Speaker 1: same www dot embody the truth Healing dot com. Perfect. Well, 754 00:51:23,960 --> 00:51:26,680 Speaker 1: thank you so much, China. I really appreciate everything that 755 00:51:26,719 --> 00:51:28,680 Speaker 1: you have shared with us today. I know that the 756 00:51:28,719 --> 00:51:33,040 Speaker 1: audience will also appreciate all this information. Thank you so much, Joy, 757 00:51:33,120 --> 00:51:37,080 Speaker 1: And I really hope you know my intention and sharing 758 00:51:37,080 --> 00:51:40,960 Speaker 1: this information is is really just to start the process 759 00:51:41,000 --> 00:51:45,239 Speaker 1: and and create opening plant seeds for for truth to 760 00:51:45,360 --> 00:51:49,480 Speaker 1: come forward. And I really hope that people were touched 761 00:51:49,480 --> 00:51:52,839 Speaker 1: by this conversation in a way that that can help 762 00:51:52,880 --> 00:51:58,560 Speaker 1: them to move forward in creating a um a reality 763 00:51:59,000 --> 00:52:03,799 Speaker 1: rooted in truth and in healing and in community, and 764 00:52:03,840 --> 00:52:09,040 Speaker 1: really that this was a conversation starter for for many people. UM, 765 00:52:09,520 --> 00:52:12,399 Speaker 1: I definitely think it's time that we start to talk 766 00:52:12,440 --> 00:52:15,880 Speaker 1: about what is real and the experience of sex or 767 00:52:16,040 --> 00:52:19,239 Speaker 1: sexual trauma. And so thank you again for inviting me 768 00:52:19,280 --> 00:52:23,240 Speaker 1: and having me on absolutely so as you can hear 769 00:52:23,560 --> 00:52:26,840 Speaker 1: Sina share some incredible information that I think we don't 770 00:52:26,880 --> 00:52:30,440 Speaker 1: often here related to sexual assaults. So I hope that 771 00:52:30,480 --> 00:52:33,200 Speaker 1: you can appreciate the level of intent and commitment that 772 00:52:33,239 --> 00:52:36,680 Speaker 1: she brings to this space. Please remember that if you 773 00:52:36,719 --> 00:52:39,759 Speaker 1: are struggling with an issue related to sexual assault or 774 00:52:39,800 --> 00:52:43,279 Speaker 1: other issues that you're looking to receive therapy before, you 775 00:52:43,320 --> 00:52:45,839 Speaker 1: can search for a therapist in your area by going 776 00:52:45,840 --> 00:52:50,640 Speaker 1: to Therapy for Black Girls dot com backslash directory and 777 00:52:50,680 --> 00:52:53,560 Speaker 1: make sure that you're checking often as new therapists are 778 00:52:53,600 --> 00:52:57,319 Speaker 1: always being added to the list. We love to hear 779 00:52:57,360 --> 00:53:00,279 Speaker 1: your thoughts about the episode. Make sure to share those 780 00:53:00,320 --> 00:53:03,480 Speaker 1: with us on social media and use the hashtag tv 781 00:53:03,640 --> 00:53:07,120 Speaker 1: G in session. You can find us on Twitter at 782 00:53:07,200 --> 00:53:10,799 Speaker 1: Therapy for the Number four be Girls, and you can 783 00:53:10,840 --> 00:53:14,400 Speaker 1: find us on Instagram and Facebook at Therapy for Black Girls. 784 00:53:15,160 --> 00:53:17,359 Speaker 1: And please make sure to share this episode with a 785 00:53:17,400 --> 00:53:19,960 Speaker 1: friend or two who you think could really benefit from 786 00:53:19,960 --> 00:53:24,080 Speaker 1: hearing it. I'm looking forward to continuing this conversation with 787 00:53:24,200 --> 00:54:08,560 Speaker 1: you all real soon. Take it care a Hotter Fi 788 00:54:08,840 --> 00:54:09,320 Speaker 1: hotor