As I sat there at the holiday table, I wondered if THIS was the price to pay for my freedom. I’d just left my abusive husband and the rest of my family, including my parents and children, were celebrating the holiday with my ex.

A friend took pity on me and invited me to her house along with another divorced friend and some newlyweds who couldn’t keep their eyes or hands off each other. Not awkward at all! It was nice of my friend to include me but I couldn’t wait to get out of there.

I wanted to be with my family, even though family holidays meant amped-up abuse. My dad, who continually had my body on his mind since my childhood, commented on my weight while he admonished me for protesting “playful” jabs from my husband. The holiday stress brought out another level of tension and the desperate need to cover it with a game of “Let’s Pretend We’re a Loving Family.”


That was many years ago but I still vividly remember feeling like holidays meant exposure to more pain, being vulnerable to abusive family members and having to pretend to enjoy it. And that was on top of the typical stress that usually accompanies this time of year.

Step-by-step, I've addressed the 5 things that kept me from thriving through the holiday season.


How would it feel to love and nurture yourself through the holiday season so you can start the new year refreshed and inspired?

Join this free audio series and support emails for quick but powerful ways to eliminate the pain, frustration and overwhelm of the holiday season so you can actually thrive!

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In these short (10-20 minute) audio classes, you'll get quick but powerful ways to take away the pain, frustration and overwhelm from your holiday season. I'll email you a lesson per day along with encouragement and practical tips for thriving through this season.

You'll be empowered to start the new year refreshed. Not only that, you can use these tools to create a more nurturing lifestyle for yourself throughout the whole year!

As a survivor of incest, sex trafficking and a 21-year long abusive marriage (now remarried to an emotionally healthy, loving and supportive man), I bring personal experience, empathy, and insight as well as professional training to help childhood sexual abuse survivors thrive.

I’m a Strategic Interventionist and Certified Professional Life Coach with a specialty Life Story certification. I'm also the CoFounder of Overcoming Sexual Abuse and author of The Rescued Soul.

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