Blog About Healing and Recovery after Child Sexual Abuse

Releasing Your Authentic Self

12/27/2017

Are You a Survivor
of Child Abuse or Trauma?
If so, this Book
was Written for YOU!

Releasing Your Authentic Self

A Daily Guide to Help
Child Abuse and Trauma Survivors
Rediscover Themselves

by Svava Brooks

$14.95 Paperback (live Amazon link)
$9.95 Kindle ebook (live Amazon link)

(381 pages)

Child abuse teaches you to disconnect from your “authentic self.” It’s the only way to survive the trauma of abuse. Because of that, adult survivors need to dig deep to reconnect with who they truly are, because their real identity has been hidden for decades.

And that’s why I wrote Releasing Your Authentic Self. I wanted to give you a very special tool to help you do just that!

In this life-changing book for child abuse and trauma survivors, you’ll receive a tiny piece of your “truth” every day for 365 days. Each truth is followed by two questions, which encourage you to dig deep enough to rediscover your beautiful, authentic self.

Feel free to write your answers to these questions directly in the book like a workbook. I’ve left plenty of room after each question for you to do that.

These questions were created to bypass the resistance of your conscious mind and reveal your toxic core issues. Every time you eliminate a core issue, you’re one step closer to releasing your authentic self.

If you’re ready to do the deep, hard work of emotional healing, Releasing Your Authentic Self is the tool you’ve been searching for. Nothing is more exciting than rediscovering that incredible, unique, awesomely wonderful person you were destined to be. Much love to you on this amazing journey!

What Are Readers Saying About Books by Svava Brooks?

“Journey to the Heart is a well-written, supportive, and gentle work to help anyone with trauma in their past learn how to live a thriving life in the present.” (E.K.)

“I am grateful for Journey to the Heart and its author, Svava Brooks. This book is filled with so much compassion and understanding that only another trauma survivor is able to put into words. Bought a copy for myself and gave a copy as a gift to my therapist to share with her other clients. I highly recommend this book.” (A.)

“This woman totally gets it. Bottom line, this author will hold your hand as you work through the dark places, and you will KNOW that those feelings cannot hurt you now, so you are free to develop into the person who has been struggling to show itself!” (D.)

Isn’t it time you began living your life
as the happy, healthy person
you were always meant to be?

Order this Life-Changing Book TODAY!

Releasing Your Authentic Self

A Daily Guide to Help
Child Abuse and Trauma Survivors
Rediscover Themselves

by Svava Brooks

$14.95 Paperback (live Amazon link)
$9.95 Kindle ebook (live Amazon link)

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Are you a survivor of abuse or trauma? Are you struggling with your healing journey? I can help! If you are ready to start "Thriving" I have just the support for you. If you are ready to do the deep, hard work of healing and create lasting change, succeed by joining a community of people just like you working through the RYAS book, one day at a time. You are worth it! Follow this link to learn more

Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me ($100). Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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You Can Heal If You Believe It

8/7/2017

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When I began my healing journey, I didn’t know if I could heal. But I was hopeful.

Back then, there were plenty of people who could tell me what was wrong with me and why. They could diagnose me with depression. They could tell me the depression was caused by the trauma I had suffered as an abused child. But few could give me what I needed most at that time: someone who believed I could heal.

And that’s my message for you today. If there’s one belief you need to cultivate after child abuse or trauma, it’s the belief that you can heal.

How do you do it? The same way I did!

I searched until I found survivors who inspired me. These people were able to show me what it looked like to heal after child abuse and trauma. They showed me how to move from barely surviving to gloriously thriving. Their lives had become their healing testimony.

From these courageous survivors, I learned healing from child abuse and trauma is a lifelong process. Even though I’m thriving today as my authentic self and loving every minute of it, I’m still growing and changing. Every week I learn new ways to heal, and every week I heal a little bit more.

All of this began with a decision to surround myself with survivors who inspired me. They believed they could heal, and that’s exactly what they did. Their belief in healing became my belief. And soon I began to heal.

It will be the same for you, too. Surround yourself with survivors you admire. Make these people your role models. They’re the ones who will help you believe you can heal.

Hey, I’m happy to be one of them. I know you can heal, because I healed. And if I can do it, you can, too!
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Is it hard for you to believe you can heal? If so, I can help. Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me ($100 per hour). Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot TODAY!

Have you read my bestselling book, “Journey to the Heart”? If you’re ready to heal from the effects of abuse or trauma (depression, anxiety, PTSD, allergies, chronic pain, etc.), this book is for YOU!! You’ll find it at Amazon in paperback (link) or Kindle (link). Enjoy and happy reading!

Are you on my email list? Email list subscribers receive an email with a link to my weekly blog post and occasional special offers. If you’d like to subscribe, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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How Do We Develop Courage?

7/23/2017

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If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may remember I wrote a blog post a few weeks ago about the 7 steps most child abuse survivors must take in order to heal.

I received a wonderful response to it from several of you. Thanks! If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, here’s the link:
link

In this blog post, I’d like to discuss the second of these 7 steps: Develop Courage. As you know, we don’t start out on our healing journey feeling courageous. In the beginning, courage is the last thing we feel. We’re uncertain of the path, the process, and the outcome.
That’s a completely normal response. Fortunately, your willingness to heal will eventually develop into courage with each healthy risk you take on your journey.

The reason we don’t feel courageous is because change is hard for survivors of child abuse. Thankfully, we’re not defenseless kids anymore. We’re adults. Now we’re the ones with all the power. We can make the choice to heal. We can be willing to change. We can take small steps forward every day on our healing journey. We can use purposeful intent to work each of these 7 steps.

Yes, we’ll probably have to remind ourselves every day of our commitment to heal. I know I did! But that daily reminder is what keeps us going.

Today, I want you to realize you’re already a courageous person. You may not feel that way, I know. But it takes tremendous courage to begin your healing journey. And you did that.

Now you need to wake up every morning, willing to do what it takes that day to heal. Do this every morning, and one day you’ll blossom into a capable, courageous, loving human being.

When it happens, that will be a very special day. It’ll be the day you rediscover your authentic self. How exciting!
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Are you having trouble with this second step? Is feeling courageous a stumbling block for you? If so, I can help! Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me ($100 per hour). Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot TODAY!

Have you read my bestselling book, “Journey to the Heart”? If you’re ready to heal from the effects of abuse or trauma (depression, anxiety, PTSD, allergies, chronic pain, etc.), this book is for YOU!! You’ll find it at Amazon in paperback (link) or Kindle (link). Enjoy and happy reading!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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WHY Do We Do What We Do?

7/17/2017

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This is such an important question. In fact, it’s an integral part of your healing journey. As survivors of child abuse and trauma, we must always ask “Why?”

Why did I do that?
Why did I say that?
Why did I think that?
Why am I feeling this particular emotion right now?
Why is feeling this way important to me?

I help my clients answer these questions by teaching them how to feel their emotions and how to fall in love with themselves. Nothing gives me more joy or satisfaction than showing them how to achieve this goal as quickly as possible. The tools I give them are the same ones I use when faced with a challenge. These are invaluable, timeless tools that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

I often cry tears of happiness when my clients reach this point. For example, most are awestruck at their ability to “feel” again. After being numb for so long, they can finally feel good emotions. They never thought they’d be able to do that again. They thought they were too broken. They weren’t.

And neither are you.

I can totally relate to this. When I began to feel again, it was a shocking moment for me. I had no idea I could feel so much joy. I never imagined I could feel so happy. It was an overwhelming, awe-inspiring experience. I thought I was incapable of feeling good emotions. I wasn’t.

So keep asking yourself “Why?” My relentless pursuit of the answer to this question in every area of my life is what led to my healing. It took me to places deep inside me, dark places that needed to be healed.

It’ll be the same for you. Pray about it. Get God involved. Question everything you think, feel, say, and do. The path from Survivor to Thriver begins with one simple word: “Why?”
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Would you like to know how to feel your good emotions again? Would you like to learn how to fall in love with yourself? If so, I can help! Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me ($100 per hour). Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot TODAY!

Have you read my bestselling book, “Journey to the Heart”? If you’re ready to heal from the effects of abuse or trauma (depression, anxiety, PTSD, allergies, chronic pain, etc.), this book is for YOU!! You’ll find it at Amazon in paperback (link) or Kindle (link). Enjoy and happy reading!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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"Journey to the Heart"

12/12/2016

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Are you a survivor of abuse or trauma?

If so, this book
was written for YOU!

Journey to the Heart

A 365-Day Guide to Thriving After Trauma

by Svava Brooks

$14.95 paperback
$9.95 Kindle ebook

(186 pages)

This book was written as a daily guide for the survivors of abuse or trauma. Each day features a little bit of “truth” to inspire you to think about a certain aspect of your healing journey.

Keep this book by your bedside. Read one section every morning for 365 days. Consider how the truth for that day applies to your past, present, and the trauma you survived.

As you allow each section to sink deeply into your heart and soul, you’ll be taking another step forward on your healing journey. It doesn’t matter whether you’re at the beginning, middle, or in the last phase of your healing. If you work through this book day by day, you’ll be making measurable progress.

After 365 days, you won’t be the same person you used to be. You’ll no longer be a Survivor. You’ll be a Thriver. You’ll finally be free. Free from the trauma of your past. Free of limitations. Free to create the life you desire!!

(Amazon buy link)

What Are Survivors Saying About Svava Brooks?

“Svava’s impact on my life and my healing journey is beyond measure. I would highly recommend her to anyone who is a victim of abuse. I overcame depression, anxiety, fear, and self-loathing because of her mentorship, support, and guidance.” (M.M.)

“Svava Brooks has a natural ability to not only hear what you say but understand. Her level of empathy and wisdom goes beyond the ordinary. She got me to open up and talk about my past in such a positive way that I soon was able to deal with my abuse. Again, I just cannot say enough about Svava Brooks.“ (J. M.)

“Dearest Svava, the work that you do and the wonderful person you are make the world a better place! Thank you for helping my husband (and family) begin the healing process. You will forever be a light in our eyes!” (S.)

Accelerate Your Healing Journey!
Order this Life-Changing Book TODAY

Journey to the Heart

A 365-Day Guide to Thriving After Trauma

by Svava Brooks

$14.95 paperback
$9.95 Kindle ebook

(Amazon buy link)

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Are you a survivor of abuse or trauma? Are you struggling with your healing journey? I can help! Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me ($100). Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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How to Heal Your Emotional Pain

10/22/2016

5 Comments

Are you hurting today? If so, I know how you feel. I used to carry an unbearably heavy load of emotional pain.

It’s important for survivors of child abuse and trauma to find a productive way to validate and express emotional pain. All of it. You can’t heal completely until you acknowledge how devastating it is to be abandoned, neglected, and ignored as a child.

When I began this validation process, I decided to become an advocate and speaker. I gave lots of talks about child sexual abuse, my past, and how to keep kids safe from predators.

This was the platform I had chosen to tell my story, and it was an important step in my healing process. However, I wasn’t aware I was still looking for someone to appear out of nowhere and fix the chaos I felt inside. Because of that, I had a tendency to overwhelm people with my message.

Even so, that was a very healing time for me, and I learned a lot from the experience. I felt vindicated by all the people listening to my story. Especially those who expressed sadness in response to what had happened to me. I also learned how to take responsibility for the impact of my words.

I’m incredibly grateful for all the people who heard me speak back then. They helped me heal. They listened and validated my pain. They kept open hearts and showered me with empathy and compassion.

Your pain will help you heal, too. Every time you tell your story to a safe friend you’ll learn how to connect with others and yourself.

Today, when I’m invited to speak I mention the pain from my past, but I focus most of my message on hope, healing, and the love I carry in my heart for myself and others.

There’s no room for pain in my life anymore. One day there won’t be room for pain in your life, too. Keep telling your story, and that day will arrive sooner than you think!
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Are you tired of being battered by a heavy load of emotional pain from the past? I can help! Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me. My calendar is filling up fast, so don’t wait. Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

5 Comments

What To Do If You Feel Unlovable

10/16/2016

3 Comments

It's impossible to love others if you can't love yourself fully and completely. That's just how love works. I mean, you can't give away what you don't have, right?

If you struggle with being loving to yourself, that simply means you don't know what real love looks like, or how it's supposed to feel. Many of us grew up this way because we were abused as children. All we saw was a highly toxic, distorted form of "love," which wasn't real love at all.

If that sounds like your childhood, I know how you feel. Expressing love was so hard for me, it was infuriating! But if I can learn how to do it, so can you. Learning how to truly love is the most important gift you can give to yourself and the world.

Begin by applying self-compassion. What do I mean by that? Basically, self-compassion is the courage to connect completely with the parts of yourself you don’t like, or you’ve never wanted to acknowledge. Those parts you’re so ashamed of that you’ve always kept them hidden.

One by one, I had to face these parts of myself I’d rejected. Those were the parts I’d held responsible for all the bad things that had happened to me. They were the parts I thought deserved the abuse.

I made friends with them, saw them through the eyes of God, and finally brought them back into my core self. Applying self-compassion and learning how to love these hidden parts taught me what real, unconditional love felt like. It showed me the difference between healthy love and toxic love.

When I could finally love and accept every part of myself, an amazing thing happened. I fell in love with who I am, and the person I’ve become. I no longer need to hide any part of myself. No part of me is bad. No part of me is shameful. No part of me deserves to be abused.

Through this process I discovered I’m a kind, compassionate, caring, loving, supportive, silly (yes, I am!!) human being. I’m a wonderful work-in-progress. Still learning, still growing, but loving every step and the unique individual I’m becoming.

Who are you? Apply self-compassion to those parts of yourself you’ve always kept hidden, and let’s find out!
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Do you feel unlovable today? Are you struggling to love the parts of yourself you’ve always kept hidden from the world? Don’t worry. I can help. Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me. My calendar is filling up fast, so don’t wait. Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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It’s Time to Walk Away From Your Past

8/22/2016

2 Comments

Healing from trauma isn’t a quick fix. It won’t happen overnight or in just a few days, weeks, or months. That’s not how it works.

Believe me, when I was ready to heal years ago I wasn’t happy about this either. In fact, I shed many tears over it. But I also knew I couldn’t continue to suffer from the awful emotional, physical, and mental effects of trauma. No, I certainly didn’t want that. I’d had enough!

If you’re ready to heal from trauma, here’s how to begin. Create a vision for yourself. We’ll call this your “Happy Vision List.” On paper, write the answers to these questions:

What would your life look like without the burden of your past that you’ve been hauling around on your back like a heavy bag of rocks? How amazing would your life be? What would your health be like? Where would you live? What kind of career success would you have? How happy would you be?

Feel the emotion of your answers deep in your soul. Invest lots of energy into it. Feel the joy of it all the way down to your toes.

Now create another list. We’ll call this the “Struggles List.” On it, list everything you’re tired of struggling with: the pain, the grief, the sadness, the hopelessness, the fear (all your fears), the anger, the frustration, the anxiety, etc. Also include everything you want to release.

When you’re finished, place these two lists side-by-side. The Happy Vision List is the vision of your healing. The Struggles List is everything that stands in the way of your healing. It’s the burden of your past.

When you look at these two lists, it’s easy to see you’ve been investing the majority of your time, energy, and emotion in the Struggles List and little or none in the Happy Vision list. Change that today. Make the decision to center your life on the Happy Vision List and wave goodbye to the Struggles List (the past).

Yes, it takes courage to walk away from your past. But you’ve carried that heavy bag of rocks on your back long enough, don’t you think?

Survivors of abuse and trauma are some of the most courageous people I know. Choose freedom today. Choose healing. If I can do it, so can you!

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Are you struggling with the burden of your past? Is it hard for you to let go? If so, I can help. Just email svava@educate4change.com to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me. My calendar is filling up fast, so don’t wait. Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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What’s Your Passion in Life?

8/7/2016

5 Comments

Our passion is our fuel. It’s what keeps us going no matter how many challenges come our way. Our passion also protects us. As long as we’re pursuing it, we don’t care what other people think about it, or if we’re doing it perfectly.

Why? Because what we’re passionate about gives us joy.

I’ve been thinking about this lately. Regardless of how my passion evolves from year to year, “hope” has always been the common thread. That’s because I’m a survivor of child sexual abuse.

Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Think about it. When a child is abused by someone that child loves and depends on, the child will create a story in which the abuse is really the child’s fault, not the fault of the parent or guardian.

We know all about that, don’t we? It’s the only way we could survive the horrors of abuse. That story gave us hope. It promised us if we could just be better and do better the abuse would stop. Of course, that never worked. It’s not reality.

Still, that story trained me to hope. It drove me to do whatever I could to improve myself and my situation. As an adult, I applied that same strategy to my healing journey. It became my passion. I kept pushing forward, confident the next book, support group, speaker, video, or webinar would be the key to a big breakthrough. And it was. Every single breakthrough on my healing journey happened exactly that way.

As I changed, my passion changed. I became passionate about helping others as an Advocate, Speaker, and Coach. I want to teach everyone how to heal and how to keep kids safe from child sexual abuse.

Now “love” is my passion. We can never stop the violence in our society until we learn how to truly love ourselves. Only then can we love others in a healthy way.

What’s your passion? If you’re on a mission to seek your truth, you’re on the right path. You’ll never go wrong if you follow your heart. Every step of the way will be a joy. You’ll see!!

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Are you struggling to find your passion? If so, I can help. Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me. My calendar is filling up fast, so don’t wait. Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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The Connection Between Your Hand and Your Heart

7/25/2016

8 Comments

Most of you are familiar with my personal journey from being a sexually abused child to an adult who lives wholeheartedly. Today, when I look back, the pain and despair I used to feel is only a distant memory.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m not still learning and growing. I am. And any change still brings discomfort. But I’m no longer terrified of total disaster.

Would you like to know about the last big hurdle to my healing? It was “love.” Not only did I resist allowing people to love me, but I also resisted being kind and loving to myself. Like many child abuse survivors, I felt I had no value or worth.

Through the use of several healing practices I eventually learned how to love myself. My favorite is to place my hand over my heart. It’s a way of gently reminding myself that I’m loved, and I’m here for myself. It allows my heart to feel warmth from the hand of someone I’ve learned to trust completely. Me.

Placing your hand over your heart validates your existence. It demonstrates in the physical realm that you’re giving yourself the love and kindness you needed but never received as an abused child.

This simple practice is also quite scientific. It activates your body’s “happiness” hormone (Oxytocin). This is the hormone responsible for evoking feelings of contentment, calmness, and security. It reduces stress and anxiety by increasing trust and empathy. It’s also an anti-inflammatory hormone that speeds wound healing.

Wow!

Now you know why at some point every day you’ll find me with my right hand on my heart. I’m taking a few moments to feel its loving warmth, notice my breath, express gratitude to my body, and whisper assurance to my inner child.

Love is the key to your healing, too. I know it is, because I’ve been there. So give this a try. Feel the warmth and love you can give to yourself with this simple practice. It works!

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Is love a big hurdle for you, too? Do you struggle to feel you have worth or value? If so, I can help. Just follow (this link) or call 619-889-6366 to reserve a one-hour coaching session with me. My calendar is filling up fast, so don’t wait. Let me help you heal your life. Reserve your spot NOW!

Are you on my email list? If you’d like to receive my empowering monthly newsletter and an email with a link to my weekly blog post, click here: http://www.educate4change.com/

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Releasing Your Authentic Self

You Can Heal If You Believe It

How Do We Develop Courage?

WHY Do We Do What We Do?

"Journey to the Heart"

How to Heal Your Emotional Pain

What To Do If You Feel Unlovable

It’s Time to Walk Away From Your Past

What’s Your Passion in Life?

The Connection Between Your Hand and Your Heart

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