Pete completed his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, where he also received a Certificate in Trauma-Effective Leadership. He speaks nationally on trauma, trauma-informed practice, resilience, strengthening the parent-child relationship, and the role of the faith community in responding to child maltreatment. He is a Registered Circle of Security – Parent Educator, Board-Approved Supervisor, and has completed extensive training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He has served on several workgroups, including the Cultural Provider’s Network, Ramsey County Ending Racial Disparities Workgroup, Youth in Transition Workgroup, and more. He designed an innovative support and education program for staff in trauma-saturated fields across disciplines. He has published and contributed to a number of articles and book chapters, including Coordinating Pastoral Care of Survivors with Mental Health Providers; Mental Health and Healthcare System Responses to Adolescent Maltreatment; and Wounded Souls: The Need for Child Protection Professionals and Faith Leaders to Recognize and Respond to the Spiritual Impact of Child Abuse, with Victor Vieth.

Pete is married, the father of three children, two of whom are grown, and has one grandchild.

Pete completed his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, where he also received a Certificate in Trauma-Effective Leadership. He speaks nationally on trauma, trauma-informed practice, resilience, strengthening the parent-child relationship, and the role of the faith community in responding to child maltreatment. He is a Registered Circle of Security – Parent Educator, Board-Approved Supervisor, and has completed extensive training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He has served on several workgroups, including the Cultural Provider’s Network, Ramsey County Ending Racial Disparities Workgroup, Youth in Transition Workgroup, and more. He designed an innovative support and education program for staff in trauma-saturated fields across disciplines. He has published and contributed to a number of articles and book chapters, including Coordinating Pastoral Care of Survivors with Mental Health Providers; Mental Health and Healthcare System Responses to Adolescent Maltreatment; and Wounded Souls: The Need for Child Protection Professionals and Faith Leaders to Recognize and Respond to the Spiritual Impact of Child Abuse, with Victor Vieth.

Pete is married, the father of three children, two of whom are grown, and has one grandchild.

Pete completed his Master’s in Social Work from the University of Minnesota, where he also received a Certificate in Trauma-Effective Leadership. He speaks nationally on trauma, trauma-informed practice, resilience, strengthening the parent-child relationship, and the role of the faith community in responding to child maltreatment. He is a Registered Circle of Security – Parent Educator, Board-Approved Supervisor, and has completed extensive training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He has served on several workgroups, including the Cultural Provider’s Network, Ramsey County Ending Racial Disparities Workgroup, Youth in Transition Workgroup, and more. He designed an innovative support and education program for staff in trauma-saturated fields across disciplines. He has published and contributed to a number of articles and book chapters, including Coordinating Pastoral Care of Survivors with Mental Health Providers; Mental Health and Healthcare System Responses to Adolescent Maltreatment; and Wounded Souls: The Need for Child Protection Professionals and Faith Leaders to Recognize and Respond to the Spiritual Impact of Child Abuse, with Victor Vieth.

Pete is married, the father of three children, two of whom are grown, and has one grandchild.

My videos on social media have millions of views. Through the lens of my personal experience, I connect entertainment, news headlines, and current events to fundamentalist influences and strategy. 

I write about religious trauma and Christian fundamentalism to educate, validate, and empower those who feel smashed by the patriarchy. To create something beautiful from pain. And, because when I went through the hell of church-sanctioned violence, I felt alone and I wasn’t. There are thousands of others out there. 

I want you to know you aren’t alone. And even if the church condones and shelters it, abuse is never okay. 

A high-level glimpse of my story:

I was married at 19 to a charming but erratic man who loved theology. I’d grown up in a conservative, mainline Baptist church, groomed to be a sexually pure bride and submissive wife. But there was violence and abuse from the beginning––and I wasn’t equipped to recognize it.

I did what I’d been trained to do: turn to my church for help. 

Help came in the form of mentors who were part of Bill Gothard’s Institute of Basic Life Principles, and pastor-counselors who’d been influenced by the rise of Christian Fundamentalism. “Help” looked like teaching me to be more submissive and to receive what my husband offered, even if that was abuse. Life grew smaller and more narrow and I felt like I was dying inside. 

But a series of tragic events cracked me open.

And then, I found a group of smart women online who shared their discoveries and growth. “Women talking” directly opposed the “women should be silent” world I lived in.

I grew.

I became more assertive. And I thought I’d found a way to balance these two worlds:

• one where I felt empowered and alive
• and one where I submitted into near non-existence. 

Balance was a delusion. As I became more independent and healthy, high-control religion and domestic abuse tightened their grip. My husband became more erratic and dangerous. In October of 2007, things came to a violent head and I narrowly escaped with my children in the middle of the night. 

What followed was a long road to freedom and healing. Ten years of trauma therapy. Five years of faith deconstruction. Becoming a single parent; falling in love. Raising four children with my village. Developing a career. Finding, and then using, my voice. Learning how to step out of the shadows so that I could shine. 

It’s been a long time since I was stuttering and hiding in a bedroom closet. And it also feels like yesterday. As I create videos, bylines, and my memoir about Christian Fundamentalism, time feels urgent. TV shows like the Duggar’s 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On glossed up the hideous realities and made fundie life seem wholesome. But that delusion is dangerous. Our laws, and women’s rights specifically, are impacted by high-control religion right now. Our society is being shaped, our country is changing. 

I believe you need to know why. 

The Christian Patriarchy has a strategy and a plan. As they shelter abuses, riding on the assumption that no one knows what’s going on behind closed doors, and using religious freedom as an umbrella shield, true suffering is happening. Slavery, rape, trafficking, child neglect, medical neglect, baby abuse and more is the reality as they prepare for their holy war. 

I’ve been there and I’m here to talk about it. 

A few personal details: 

I’m also a Content Strategist with 20 years in marketing. I offer those services at workingwriter.info

I’m Mom to four incredible young adults. Favorite hooman of dog Georgia and cat Howard.

I love to hike, daydream and travel slowly. I now identify as spiritually private, because it was having a binary, firm answer to life’s mysterious questions that got me into fundamentalism in the first place. I don’t believe there’s a magic formula or set of rules to help us escape the Human Experience. 

I also paint and love movies. 

“A wild patience has brought me this far.” –Adrienne Rich 

I’m represented by Trinity McFadden of The Bindery Agency. My memoir releases in 2024. 

Danielle Sebastian is an expert on identifying and overcoming trauma in relationships. She is the bestselling author of "Resilient Wives: A Guide for Wives Supporting Their Husband Through Childhood Trauma Recovery" and has helped hundreds of women navigate and repair their marriages as they support their husbands through trauma recovery. After 8 years of strain in her own marriage and through years of extensive research and development on trauma, relationships, and self-care, Danielle created a signature "Wife-CARE" framework. She is a sought-after speaker, and her thought leadership has been presented to audiences of over 1K. Danielle was recently featured on competitive gymnast and the first known survivor of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, Sarah Klein's podcast, "Bar Fights: Taking on Issues that Matter." Happily married for 12 years and the mother of 2, Danielle has dedicated her life to helping wives reconnect with their husbands and heal together. But most of all, her passion lies in assisting wives to prioritize their wellness and finding community as they work toward a healthier marriage.

A facial scar alters a beautiful woman’s identity. A man goes to surprising lengths to protect his daughter after his wife’s brutal assault. A bartender leaves her seaside inheritance in flames. A woman calls on nature to defeat a would-be rapist, and another finds love with a man who may have sinister motivations.

A facial scar alters a beautiful woman’s identity. A man goes to surprising lengths to protect his daughter after his wife’s brutal assault. A bartender leaves her seaside inheritance in flames. A woman calls on nature to defeat a would-be rapist, and another finds love with a man who may have sinister motivations.

When working with trauma patients, Chiropractors should focus on restoring balance and harmony within the body, as well as helping the patient manage stress and trauma. Calvin Ling is a chiropractor who focuses on providing trauma-informed chiropractic care. He feels that it's essential to create a safe and comfortable environment for patients, and that clear communication is important for establishing boundaries. Acupuncture can be incredibly helpful to trauma patients in alleviating symptoms and improving overall health and well-being. It's always beneficial to have a doctor or health professional involved in treatment, but if you are struggling to find relief and are interested in exploring acupuncture as an option, it's always a good idea to speak with a licensed therapist beforehand to get a proper diagnosis and customize the treatment plan specifically for you.- The three principles of chiropractic are trauma, toxins, and thoughts. Treatment of trauma usually focuses on resolving any subluxations that may be causing misalignment and interference with nerve function. Trauma-informed chiropractic looks at the whole person, taking into account their history and symptoms, in order to create a plan of care that will best target their needs. Acupuncture is considered to be a powerful treatment for pain management and some other musculoskeletal conditions.

Calvin Ling is a student at Logan University and is about to graduate and focus on Trauma care. He recently got married. He will graduate in December. 

Susan Omilian is an attorney, author, motivational speaker, and nationally recognized expert who has worked to end violence against women for the last forty years. In the 1970s, she founded a rape crisis center and, in the early 1980s, represented battered women in divorce proceedings. She also litigated sex discrimination cases, including helping to articulate the legal concept that made sexual harassment illegal in the 1990s.

Her passion and enthusiasm for this work became more personal and immediate with the violent death of her niece Maggie, killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1999. Driven by a desire to help women move on after abuse as Maggie could not, Susan developed and has facilitated 2001 her My Avenging Angel Workshops^TM, based on the idea that “living well is the best revenge.” These workshops have helped hundreds of women journey from victim to survivor to thriver.

Her novel, Awaken: The Awakening of the Human Spirit on a Healing Journey, was published in 2017 as part of The Best Revenge Series^TM and was inspired by the true event of her niece’s death. In Awaken, the reader sees, in a story-telling format, how the warning signs of abuse work in a relationship as well as how the journey to thriving can inspire a new start in life. In Emerge: The Opening of the Human Heart to the Power of Love, a sequel to Awaken and the second book in The Best Revenge Series^TM, the story continues with an exploration of how the power of unconditional love can create in the human heart a sense of home, togetherness, and possibility. The final book in the Series, Thrive, will be published in 2022.

Susan is also the author of several books on sex discrimination law and her articles have appeared in newspapers and journals including “Moving Beyond Abuse in Our Lives” in The Voice: The Journal of the Battered Women’s Movement

, published by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Articles about Susan and her innovative, groundbreaking work have also appeared in publications in the state where she lives, The Connecticut Law Tribune and New Britain Herald

As an editor and writing coach who teaches fiction and non-fiction memoir writing classes, Susan oversees her own production company, Butterfly Bliss Productions LLC, which is the publisher of her books.  Susan holds a law degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Michigan.

Her novel, Awaken: The Awakening of the Human Spirit on a Healing Journey, was published in 2017 as part of The Best Revenge Series^TM and was inspired by the actual event of her niece’s death. In Awaken, the reader sees, in a story-telling format, how the warning signs of abuse work in a relationship as well as how the journey to thriving can inspire a new start in life. In Emerge: The Opening of the Human Heart to the Power of Love, a sequel to Awaken and the second book in The Best Revenge Series^TM, the story continues with an exploration of how the power of unconditional love can create in the human heart a sense of home, togetherness, and possibility. The final book in the Series, Thrive, will be published in 2022.

Susan is also the author of several books on sex discrimination law and her articles have appeared in newspapers and journals including “Moving Beyond Abuse in Our Lives” in The Voice: The Journal of the Battered Women’s Movement

, published by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Articles about Susan and her innovative, groundbreaking work have also appeared in publications in the state where she lives, including The Connecticut Law Tribune and New Britain Herald.

As an editor and writing coach who teaches fiction and non-fiction memoir writing classes, Susan oversees her own production company, Butterfly Bliss Productions LLC, which is the publisher of her books.  Susan holds a law degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Michigan.

Susan Omilian is an attorney, author, motivational speaker, and nationally recognized expert who has worked to end violence against women for the last forty years. In the 1970s, she founded a rape crisis center and, in the early 1980s, represented battered women in divorce proceedings. She also litigated sex discrimination cases, including helping to articulate the legal concept that made sexual harassment illegal in the 1990s.

Her passion and enthusiasm for this work became more personal and immediate with the violent death of her niece Maggie, killed by her ex-boyfriend in 1999. Driven by a desire to help women move on after abuse as Maggie could not, Susan developed and has facilitated 2001 her My Avenging Angel Workshops^TM, based on the idea that “living well is the best revenge.” These workshops have helped hundreds of women journey from victim to survivor to thriver.

Her novel, Awaken: The Awakening of the Human Spirit on a Healing Journey, was published in 2017 as part of The Best Revenge Series^TM and was inspired by the true event of her niece’s death. In Awaken, the reader sees, in a story-telling format, how the warning signs of abuse work in a relationship as well as how the journey to thriving can inspire a new start in life. In Emerge: The Opening of the Human Heart to the Power of Love, a sequel to Awaken and the second book in The Best Revenge Series^TM, the story continues with an exploration of how the power of unconditional love can create in the human heart a sense of home, togetherness, and possibility. The final book in the Series, Thrive, will be published in 2022.

Susan is also the author of several books on sex discrimination law and her articles have appeared in newspapers and journals including “Moving Beyond Abuse in Our Lives” in The Voice: The Journal of the Battered Women’s Movement

, published by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Articles about Susan and her innovative, groundbreaking work have also appeared in publications in the state where she lives, The Connecticut Law Tribune and New Britain Herald

As an editor and writing coach who teaches fiction and non-fiction memoir writing classes, Susan oversees her own production company, Butterfly Bliss Productions LLC, which is the publisher of her books.  Susan holds a law degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Michigan.

Her novel, Awaken: The Awakening of the Human Spirit on a Healing Journey, was published in 2017 as part of The Best Revenge Series^TM and was inspired by the actual event of her niece’s death. In Awaken, the reader sees, in a story-telling format, how the warning signs of abuse work in a relationship as well as how the journey to thriving can inspire a new start in life. In Emerge: The Opening of the Human Heart to the Power of Love, a sequel to Awaken and the second book in The Best Revenge Series^TM, the story continues with an exploration of how the power of unconditional love can create in the human heart a sense of home, togetherness, and possibility. The final book in the Series, Thrive, will be published in 2022.

Susan is also the author of several books on sex discrimination law and her articles have appeared in newspapers and journals including “Moving Beyond Abuse in Our Lives” in The Voice: The Journal of the Battered Women’s Movement

, published by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Articles about Susan and her innovative, groundbreaking work have also appeared in publications in the state where she lives, including The Connecticut Law Tribune

 and New Britain Herald

.

As an editor and writing coach who teaches fiction and non-fiction memoir writing classes, Susan oversees her own production company, Butterfly Bliss Productions LLC, which is the publisher of her books.  Susan holds a law degree from Wayne State University in Detroit and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Michigan.

Barry Krakow, MD is a board certified sleep medicine specialist practicing in Savannah, Georgia following a 30 year career in conducting research in psychiatric patients with sleep disorders and treating these individuals with evidence-based pioneering techniques to optimize care. His new practice involves an innovative sleep health coaching program. Dr. Krakow’s career in sleep medicine started in 1988 when he joined the Department of Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and collaborated on the first randomized controlled trial on the innovative nightmare treatment protocol, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT). His subsequent research team at the Sleep & Human Health Institute has published extensively on IRT in the form of peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and landmark training manual, Turning Nightmares into Dreams, the most widely used resource for patients and providers to learn the IRT methodology. Dr. Krakow’s additional research and clinical practice on sleep disorders has again led to extensive peer-reviewed publications demonstrating the independent co-morbid nature of sleep disorders in mental health patients in general and PTSD patients in particular. His pioneering efforts in evaluating and treating PTSD patients led the way in the recognition of the unexpectedly high prevalence of sleep apnea in PTSD patients. As a result, his research team and clinical practice models have established various techniques and technologies to effectively treat these disorders in ways not customarily applied at traditional sleep medical centers. Finally, since 2008 Dr. Krakow has conducted numerous training workshops on IRT as well as on sleep disorders practice models for mental health patients. Programs have been conducted at more than 25 military bases and Veteran’s medical centers as well as 25 civilian mental health institutions. The most extensive program effort occurred through AMEDD C&S in 2012-2014 at 10 different military bases. Last, Dr. Krakow helped to initiate the first Nightmare Treatment Symposium in July, 2016 involving the world’s leading nightmare treatment researchers and specialists. His latest book on sleep and mental health published this year is Life Saving Sleep: New Horizons in Mental Health Treatment.

Barry Krakow, MD is a board certified sleep medicine specialist practicing in Savannah,
Georgia following a 30 year career in conducting research in psychiatric patients with
sleep disorders and treating these individuals with evidence-based pioneering techniques
to optimize care. His new practice involves an innovative sleep health coaching program.
Dr. Krakow’s career in sleep medicine started in 1988 when he joined the Department of
Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and collaborated on the
first randomized controlled trial on the innovative nightmare treatment protocol, Imagery
Rehearsal Therapy (IRT). His subsequent research team at the Sleep & Human Health
Institute has published extensively on IRT in the form of peer-reviewed articles, book
chapters, and landmark training manual, Turning Nightmares into Dreams, the most
widely used resource for patients and providers to learn the IRT methodology. Dr.
Krakow’s additional research and clinical practice on sleep disorders has again led to
extensive peer-reviewed publications demonstrating the independent co-morbid nature of
sleep disorders in mental health patients in general and PTSD patients in particular. His
pioneering efforts in evaluating and treating PTSD patients led the way in the recognition
of the unexpectedly high prevalence of sleep apnea in PTSD patients. As a result, his
research team and clinical practice models have established various techniques and
technologies to effectively treat these disorders in ways not customarily applied at
traditional sleep medical centers. Finally, since 2008 Dr. Krakow has conducted
numerous training workshops on IRT as well as on sleep disorders practice models for
mental health patients. Programs have been conducted at more than 25 military bases
and Veteran’s medical centers as well as 25 civilian mental health institutions. The most
extensive program effort occurred through AMEDD C&S in 2012-2014 at 10 different
military bases. Last, Dr. Krakow helped to initiate the first Nightmare Treatment
Symposium in July, 2016 involving the world’s leading nightmare treatment researchers
and specialists. His latest book on sleep and mental health published this year is Life
Saving Sleep: New Horizons in Mental Health Treatment.

Nasal hygiene is one of the simplest, most effective, and earliest conservative treatments for PTSD, anxiety, and depression.: You can treat sleep disordered breathing with therapy and lifestyle changes, or using a machine called a CPAP.: Nightmares and insomnia are often a result of chronic PTSD, and can worsen PTSD symptoms. Sleep studies can help determine if the PTSD is causing the sleep problems.: The best sleep device is the PAP machine and it's a phenomenal way to sleep. delta and REM sleep are important in emotional processing and memory, so it's great for improving those things. Tune in next week to learn more about sleep with Dr. Barry Krakow. If you have any questions, I'm a sleep medicine doctor, and my subspecialty is treating PTSD and sleep disturbances in patients who have that condition. I've found that treating PTSD and sleep disturbances is a very effective way to improve mental health, and I'm excited to share some of the methods we use with my listeners today.

Holly's journey as a sexually abused child. An elite athlete, sexually abused by her coach, to being accountable for how she live going forward. 

Contact Information

202.256.4646

brookebralove@gmail.com

www.brookebralove.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/brookebralovepsychotherapy/

IG: @brookebralovepsychotherapy

Twitter: @bbpsychotherapy

Tik Tok: @bbralovepsychotherapy

As an addition, we will be hosting our National Peer Review on June 7th for currently practicing forensic interviewers. The peer review is open to 75 participants.

Tyler has worked over six years in both the public and private laboratory sector, having been employed as a Microbiologist, DNA Specialist, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager, and Forensic Scientist throughout the span of his laboratory career. His most recent venture involved working as a Forensic Scientist with the Indiana State Police, Laboratory Division. Tyler’s forensic training also includes knowledge in the following fields: drug analysis; questioned document analysis; firearms; fingerprinting; photography; trace evidence analysis; crime scene investigation; child forensic interviewing.

In addition to his laboratory service, Tyler has extensive experience working in post-secondary education. With over seven years of professional work experience at institutions of higher education, he has served as an Associate Professor for traditional and online learning platforms, with a combined five years of program development and directorial leadership experience for Child Advocacy Studies (CAST), Criminal Justice and Forensic Science programs. Tyler also possesses an in-depth understanding of program assessment and accreditation for both traditional and non-traditional curricula. Tyler’s academic duties continue outside the classroom through work as both a manuscript reviewer and editorial board member for a variety of peer-reviewed publication outlets.

As both a lab analyst and educator, Tyler has come to appreciate the need for engagement-based learning that prepares professionals from all walks of life to identify and respond to the varying forms of child maltreatment that exists. Tyler is dedicated to using his experience as a scientist and educator to support child advocacy initiatives and improve both academia and research within this realm. As the Director of CAST for the Zero Abuse Project, he pledges to assist faculty with training, development, and implementation as it pertains to CAST programming at their institutions.

As an addition, we will be hosting our National Peer Review on June 7th for currently practicing forensic interviewers. The peer review is open to 75 participants.

Tyler has worked over six years in both the public and private laboratory sector, having been employed as a Microbiologist, DNA Specialist, Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manager, and Forensic Scientist throughout the span of his laboratory career. His most recent venture involved working as a Forensic Scientist with the Indiana State Police, Laboratory Division. Tyler’s forensic training also includes knowledge in the following fields: drug analysis; questioned document analysis; firearms; fingerprinting; photography; trace evidence analysis; crime scene investigation; child forensic interviewing.

In addition to his laboratory service, Tyler has extensive experience working in post-secondary education. With over seven years of professional work experience at institutions of higher education, he has served as an Associate Professor for traditional and online learning platforms, with a combined five years of program development and directorial leadership experience for Child Advocacy Studies (CAST), Criminal Justice and Forensic Science programs. Tyler also possesses an in-depth understanding of program assessment and accreditation for both traditional and non-traditional curricula. Tyler’s academic duties continue outside the classroom through work as both a manuscript reviewer and editorial board member for a variety of peer-reviewed publication outlets.

As both a lab analyst and educator, Tyler has come to appreciate the need for engagement-based learning that prepares professionals from all walks of life to identify and respond to the varying forms of child maltreatment that exists. Tyler is dedicated to using his experience as a scientist and educator to support child advocacy initiatives and improve both academia and research within this realm. As the Director of CAST for the Zero Abuse Project, he pledges to assist faculty with training, development, and implementation as it pertains to CAST programming at their institutions.

As an addition, we will be hosting our National Peer Review on June 7th for currently practicing forensic interviewers. The peer review is open to 75 participants.

Alison Feigh, Director of Jacob Wetterling Resource Center - St Paul, MN

Alison Feigh, MS, is the Director of Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, a program of Zero Abuse Project. In this role, she works with students, parents, youth workers, faith leaders, law enforcement and the media to help prevent abuse and abductions. Alison’s work also includes writing curriculum for youth-serving organizations, training professionals about the online challenges kids face and advocating for families of the missing. Alison has been working in the sexual abuse prevention field for more than 19 years. As a classmate of Jacob Wetterling, she learned early on how important it is to protect children and youth from exploitation. As a subject matter expert on child and teen safety, Alison trains professionals, parents, and youth in Minnesota and nationally. Her safety messages are highlighted in her children’s books, “On Those Runaway Days” and “I Can Play It Safe.” Both titles were released nationally in 2008 by Free Spirit Publishing and have recently been translated into Chinese.

Alison received her self-designed major in “Responding to Missing Children in the U.S.” along with a major in Communication from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn and earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from St. Cloud State University.

• Alison is thankful for the opportunities she has been given as a youth worker and she continues to work with young people in youth ministry, camping ministry, and theatre companies.

As an addition, we will be hosting our National Peer Review on June 7th for currently practicing forensic interviewers. The peer review is open to 75 participants.

Alison Feigh, Director of Jacob Wetterling Resource Center - St Paul, MN

Alison Feigh, MS, is the Director of Jacob Wetterling Resource Center, a program of Zero Abuse Project. In this role, she works with students, parents, youth workers, faith leaders, law enforcement and the media to help prevent abuse and abductions. Alison’s work also includes writing curriculum for youth-serving organizations, training professionals about the online challenges kids face and advocating for families of the missing. Alison has been working in the sexual abuse prevention field for more than 19 years. As a classmate of Jacob Wetterling, she learned early on how important it is to protect children and youth from exploitation. As a subject matter expert on child and teen safety, Alison trains professionals, parents, and youth in Minnesota and nationally. Her safety messages are highlighted in her children’s books, “On Those Runaway Days” and “I Can Play It Safe.” Both titles were released nationally in 2008 by Free Spirit Publishing and have recently been translated into Chinese.

Alison received her self-designed major in “Responding to Missing Children in the U.S.” along with a major in Communication from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn and earned a Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree from St. Cloud State University.

• Alison is thankful for the opportunities she has been given as a youth worker and she continues to work with young people in youth ministry, camping ministry, and theatre companies.

Melissa has been a faithful member of Hope Chapel Foursquare Church in Apex, NC for over 13 years. There she has served as leader of the Sunday Morning Prayer Team, Woman’s Pastor, a member of the Church’s council and currently leads the Prophetic Prayer Team where she facilitates Prophetic Training. As an ordained Pastor with Foursquare International Church and published author, Melissa speaks around the world empowering men and women to embrace the fullness of God.

Born in Baton Rouge, LA, Melissa graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. She received her Masters of Education from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. Currently, Melissa teaches math at Panther Creek High School in Cary, NC.

Happily married for over 30 years, Melissa and James have three biological children, a son-in-law and many spiritual daughters. They currently live in Holly Springs, NC where they enjoy Disney and superhero movies.

Melissa has been a faithful member of Hope Chapel Foursquare Church in Apex, NC for over 13 years. There she has served as leader of the Sunday Morning Prayer Team, Woman’s Pastor, a member of the Church’s council and currently leads the Prophetic Prayer Team where she facilitates Prophetic Training. As an ordained Pastor with Foursquare International Church and published author, Melissa speaks around the world empowering men and women to embrace the fullness of God.

Born in Baton Rouge, LA, Melissa graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. She received her Masters of Education from Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. Currently, Melissa teaches math at Panther Creek High School in Cary, NC.

Happily married for over 30 years, Melissa and James have three biological children, a son-in-law and many spiritual daughters. They currently live in Holly Springs, NC where they enjoy Disney and superhero movies.

I am a Survivor of sexual abuse.

Sandy has earned a certificate of completion from the Faith Trust Institute entitled, “A Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy and Spiritual Teachers.”

https://sandyphillipskirkham.com/

Sandy has earned a certificate of completion from the Faith Trust Institute entitled, “A Sacred Trust: Boundary Issues for Clergy and Spiritual Teachers.”

https://sandyphillipskirkham.com/

website: https://www.alicianpatterson.com/

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciapattersonthx/?hl=en

website: https://www.alicianpatterson.com/

instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciapattersonthx/?hl=en

Within weeks after starting the blog, my former pastor and church (Chuck O’Neal and Beaverton Grace Bible Church) sued me and four other former members, including my adult daughter, for defamation. Their lawsuit asked for $500,000 in damages. My story went viral, beginning with this news report.

Since winning the lawsuit in July 26, 2012, I have continued to blog about spiritual abuse, how to recover from it, and note disturbing practices in churches/organizations, some of which can lead people to question their faith or even abandon their faith. Although now closed for commenting, the original blog can still be found here.

Many have asked if my whole story in one place. My story has been written as memories and experiences come to mind, so it is interspersed throughout the blog, but here is a blog post with a compilation of articles where you may find important parts of my story.

If you are interested in reading the details of the lawsuit and commentary, Brad Sargent compiled the whole story, related news articles, interviews, analysis of the case in the BGBC Archive.  It was a very large undertaking (over 300 hours of work) and I’m so appreciative of Brad’s work in this as he and I believe my story is representative of so many others.  We hope others can learn from our experience. Brad, too, is a spiritual abuse survivor and has been studying spiritual abuse systems for a few decades. He has a wealth of knowledge and I owe him the deepest gratitude.

Another part of my story is connected with the Christian Homeschool Movement –  which includes ideologies and practices such as: full-quiver, courtship, Patriarchy, stay-at-home daughters, modesty/purity teachings (the church/pastor who sued me also was connected with the Homeschool Movement). As a long-time homeschooling mother (23+ yrs), I have seen how some of these practices, especially the ones that devalue/depersonalize women and girls, have caused great harm, physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. We have a big problem with abuse in our Christian churches groups, and this needs to change.

Additionally, I have worked as an investigative blogger covering high-profile cases such as breaking the clergy sexual misconduct cases of Ravi Zacharias and Tullian Tchividjian (grandson of Billy Graham). I worked full-time on the blog at least 40-60 hours a week from 2012, even while going back to school to get my Bachelor’s in Cyber Security. Since 2020, I started working full-time in cyber security and have taken a break from blogging, but have continued to be active on Twitter and also do interviews and speak on topics related to abuse in church.

A very sad and difficult part of my story is that the spiritual abuse I incurred was not just at church. It was also in my home under the guise of Patriarchy. I made the very difficult decision to divorce my husband of nearly 35 years last year (2020). Part of my advocacy work is encouraging and providing safe places for women to get the support they need if they are in a destructive marriage.

If you have suffered spiritual abuse, my heart really goes out to you. The recovery process is deeply personal and heart wrenching. After the media got hold of my story, I was inundated with hundreds of e-mails, and it took me several months to respond to all of them. I discovered that many self-proclaimed atheists were also victims of spiritual abuse.  This breaks my heart and shows how damaging spiritual abuse really is.

If you would like help along the way, feel free to hang out on the blog. There are some amazing people (regular readers) and my co-blogger, Kathi, who understand and will encourage you. Feel free to jump in at any time on any blog post, regardless of the topic.

This place is for you!

~Julie Anne  (or JA)

E-mail:  JA@SpiritualSoundingBoard.com

https://www.youtube.com/@theliesweleftpodcast5789

interview specialist and trainer for Zero Abuse Project, Rita admits that her role as a forensic interviewer of child abuse victims is her “true passion.”

After graduating from Ball State University with a degree in secondary

education, Rita began teaching in secondary and post-secondary

classrooms. While raising her two sons in Fishers, IN, Rita held various

leadership positions throughout the community. In July 2000, Rita

undertook the challenge of opening Chaucie’s Place, a child advocacy

center in Hamilton County, IN. The combination of her roles as

executive director and forensic interviewer naturally led Rita to become

involved with state and national organizations in the field of child abuse.

Rita serves as the Director, ChildFirst® for Zero Abuse Project,

managing the national ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Training program.

She is a co-author of the ChildFirst® Forensic Interview Protocol and has conducted more than 2,900

child interviews. In addition, she manages the development of advanced training courses and programs for forensic interviewers and investigators.

Rita is a certified law enforcement instructor and still conducts forensic interviews in the field. She has testified in numerous court cases and has authored many peer reviewed articles specific to child abuse investigations and forensic interviewing of child abuse victims. As a national speaker, Rita continues to champion the cause of child advocacy and forensic interviewing. Rita serves as a board member for the Indiana Coalition of Child Advocacy Centers. She is a member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) and serves on numerous councils, task forces and boards in the areas of child abuse and domestic violence. Rita was presented with the U.S.

Attorney General's award for "Outstanding Service to Victims of Crime" by the U.S. Attorney General of Indiana, and is also the recipient of the "Champion for Children" award.

​Founder/ CEO

Traffick Stop. REAL NEWS: Sex Trafficking

www.TigerliliResources.org

Victor is the Chief Program Officer, Education and Research of the Zero Abuse Project, a 501©(3) public charity based in St Paul, MN, committed to education, training, and survivor support in order to eradicate child sex abuse and remedy its resulting harms. He is the 2018 President of the Academy on Violence & Abuse, and founder of the National Child Protection Training Center. With NCPTC and its partners, Victor has been instrumental in implementing 22 state and international forensic interview training programs and dozens of undergraduate and graduate programs on child maltreatment.

Mr. Vieth graduated magna cum laude from WSU and earned his Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law (HUSL). In 2017, Victor earned an MA in theology from Wartburg Seminary. Mr. Vieth has published countless articles related to the investigation, prosecution and prevention of child abuse and neglect. He is author of Unto the Third Generation, a bold initiative that outlines the necessary steps we must all take to eliminate child abuse in America in three generations, and On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Works of Jesus (Wiff & Stock 2018).

• 12th Generation Chen Inheritor and a disciple of Grandmaster Chen Zhenglei
• Have trained many instructors and known as a teachers’ teacher
• Founder of “Free Daily Online Tai Chi & Qigong Lessons with Violet & Friends” with at least three hundred thousands of views from 30 countries.
• Taught and performed the healing art to universities, hospitals, large corporations, health institutes, gyms, museum and senior centers in many US cities as well as overseas.
• Columnist of Chinese Wushu, the most prominent Chinese Martial Arts magazine
• Contributor of Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine, the largest English magazine in the field  
• “Best Reporter” honored by the “World Congress of Tai Chi, Qigong & TCM” and “Tai Chi Gala”.  
• Written more than 700 articles mostly in English and some in Chinese to bring the awareness of Tai Chi/Qigong to the world.
• Publisher ofhttp://www.VioletLiTaiChi.com, top ten Tai Chi site with readership from 45 countries
• Interviewed by “National Public Radio in Columbia”(MO)

Featured on “Show Me St. Louis”(KSDK) 

• Interviewed by Planet China and selected as one of Top 12 Chinese Women in the world

https://indd.adobe.com/embed/98978636-8978-4875-afba-986df349300e?startpage=1&allowFullscreen=true.

• Executive MBA, Washington University
• MA, Economics, Vanderbilt University
• BA, Journalism, Chengchi University

https://perrypower.org/

Intuition Work: www.AshleyEaster.com

Instagram: @iamashleyeaster

Activism Work: www.Courage365.org

Twitter: @ashleymeaster

SNAP, the largest, oldest and most active support group for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns, coaches, teachers, and others).

https://bozlawpa.com/

https://www.netgrace.org/

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