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Thriving and Beyond

A blog dedicated to those healing from the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.
​Together we move from victim, to survivor, to thriver.
By EmpowerSurvivors
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Conversations With Elizabeth: Special Guest, Stacy Coulter

5/1/2023

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                                                EmpowerSurvivors program, Conversations with Elizabeth
                                                                Previously recorded on 4/24/2023


A very big thank you to Stacy Coulter for being our guest on the EmpowerSurvivors program, Conversations with Elizabeth!

Join us as we discuss being a mother of a survivor with the author of the book,
"Blindfolds and Pitchforks: Don't Be a Child Molester's Flying Monkey" and the mother of a sexually abused child, Stacy Coulter.

As a parent, finding out that one of our children is the victim of childhood sexual abuse is horrifying. Something we may think will never happen to one of our own children. Join us for this Zoom program as Stacy brings us through her story of being a mother of a child who disclosed childhood sexual abuse at the hands of their stepfather.
Find Stacy's book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Blindfolds.../dp/1521801592

EmpowerSuvivors is a survivor-led nonprofit organization incorporating the peer support model.
EmpowerSurvivors aids in reducing the silence and stigma of childhood sexual abuse. We offer individualized mentorship programs, peer-support groups, classes, and individual mentorship. These programs help assist in the survivor recovery process, reduce isolation, provide skills to help manage lives in the community and promote health and well-being. Find out more at: www.empowersurvivors.net/

Find Us on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/EmpowerSurvivors



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Join Us via Zoom!

3/19/2023

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Join us for another episode of the EmpowerSurvivors Zoom podcast:
Conversations with Elizabeth!
Monday, April 10, 2023
 6:00 PM Central Time
  7:00 PM Eastern Time
     5:00 PM Mountain Time
4:00 PM Pacific Time

 
Must register in advance:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUud-urpzwiH9Hz38R6raU4-ZMZKPb8nZ14
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

This week we cover the subject of sibling childhood sexual abuse and trauma with special guests & Survivors, Amanda S., Maria Socolof, and Jane Epstein of the nonprofit 5WAVES.

An estimated 80 million children worldwide have experienced sibling sexual trauma or abuse. 88% of survivors don't tell anyone till adulthood if they ever tell at all
Join us as we discuss this important topic that is rarely spoken about.

What is 5WAVES?
5WAVES is a not-for-profit promoting Worldwide Awareness, Voice, Education, and Support around Sibling Sexual Trauma--child sexual abuse caused by a sibling. The founders of 5WAVES are five women in five different time zones, working to break through the dark shadows of a silent epidemic. As survivors and parents, they each found themselves utterly alone for years and even decades, as they faced the effects of sibling sexual trauma (SST) on their lives and families. Sibling sexual trauma is real. It happens in all types of families. In fact, it is one of the most common forms of child sexual abuse both in the US and worldwide.

https://www.5waves.org/

What is EmpowerSurvivors:
EmpowerSuvivors is a survivor-led 501c3 nonprofit organization incorporating the peer support model.
EmpowerSurvivors aids in reducing the silence and stigma of childhood sexual abuse. We offer individualized mentorship programs, peer-support groups, classes, and conferences. These programs help aid in the survivor recovery process, reduce isolation, provide skills to help manage lives in the community and promote health and well-being. 

https://www.empowersurvivors.net/
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Conversations With Elizabeth

2/5/2023

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Conversations With Elizabeth is a podcast series discussing issues pertaining to childhood sexual trauma, mental health, healing, and wellness. This program is produced by EmpowerSurvivors. EmpowerSurvivors is a nonprofit that serves that supports survivors of childhood sexual abuse worldwide on their healing journeys.

In this episode Elizabeth has a candid conversation with Mel Langston, PhD., LPC. who is the mother of a sexually abused child and founder of the organization, Mothers of Sexually Abused Children.

About Mel:
Mel Langston, Ph.D., is motivated by personal experience with child sexual abuse and is a licensed therapist in Astoria, Oregon, with over 30 years of professional experience working with mothers and sexually abused children. Mel is the author of What Do I Do Now? A Survival Guide for Mothers Of Sexually Abused Children and also the CEO of MOSAC https://www.mosac.net/

About Elizabeth:
Elizabeth is the founder of EmpowerSurvivors, a nonprofit organization located in Stillwater, MN.
Elizabeth is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse that now uses her own experience of abuse, healing, and education, to help others. Elizabeth's organization started in 2014 at a time when little help was afforded to survivors of this horrible crime. It is her belief that survivors deserve healing and she believes the peer support model can be very beneficial for those looking to add to their mental health team. No survivor should ever have to live in silence. Elizabeth welcomes you to join our many Facebook groups as well as the other offerings at EmpowerSurvivors.
www.empowersurvivors.net/
EmpowerSurvivors is a 501(C)(3). All Rights Reserved. © 2023
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Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Foster Care System

2/2/2023

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Conversations With Elizabeth is a podcast and video series discussing issues pertaining to childhood sexual trauma, healing, and wellness.

Tonight Elizabeth welcomes Mckenzie Grove, a fellow advocate and foster care parent of sexually abused children.

Sexual Abuse and Foster Care - The importance of saying yes/ “A victim does not a perpetrator make”/Breaking the stigma

o John Hopkins University study: children in group/residential/congregate homes 28x more likely to become a SA/trafficking victim compared to the rate of 4x for a child in a regular foster home (compared to peers)

o More than 50% of sex trafficking victims recovered in FBI Nationwide raids were children in OOHC with the majority being residential/group home placements.

o 2019 studies reported rates as high as 80% of girls involved in human trafficking had been in the child welfare system.

o No Such Thing Campaign- rights4girls in Washington D.C.- these are victims NOT criminals -

Disclosure: how to handle at the moment with the child
o Do not ask too many questions (can be considered leading/coaching)
o Verbalize understanding with compassion
o Keep emotion limited (the child needs calm and composure)
o Affirm that you believe the child
o Contact the caseworker asap (write down exactly what the child told you)
o Contact Child Abuse Hotline - Resources: you are not alone
o Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act Law in 2014 requires state agencies to screen all children in their custody for trafficking and connect youth with appropriate services.

o Need for fundamental systemic change at this point- resources, while funded, are limited geographically or unknown to foster homes (better training and education needed)
o MOSAC
o EmpowerSurvivors
o Darkness to Light
o Natalie’s Sisters (trafficking)
o Refuge for Women (trafficking)
o R&C Worker o GAL/CASA
o Therapist (EMDR, equine, PCIT)
o CAC Therapy sources - Integration into the Community/Schools
o IEP and 504
o Guidance Counselor - Advocating for the Sexually Abused Child
o Be their voice but do not tell their story - The importance of Believing in a survivor
o Sex Abuse is the darkest of secrets. Most often the story is told in bits and pieces. Sometimes what is told can seem beyond comprehension.
Regardless believe them.

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​www.empowersurvivors.net/
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Call us today to inquire about the many services we provide for survivors of childhood sexual abuse:
Survivor led support groups & classes  -  Individual peer support - Conferences - Retreats
651-323-4721
​ Stillwater, MN 55082
EmpowerSurvivors is a 501(C)(3). All Rights Reserved. © 2025 
  • Home
  • Programs
    • Conversations with Elizabeth
    • Zoom Peer Support Groups
    • Individual Peer Support
  • Community
  • EmpowerSurvivors Gear!!
  • YouTube
  • The Power of YOU
  • Resources
  • Give
  • About Us
    • The Organization
    • Press
    • Blog
  • Contact