Healing is Messy, but it's Necessary

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! We are kicking this DV series off with a special feature from Courageous Fire, Founder of Courageous Fire LLC. She sheds light on psychological abuse, one of the forms of domestic violence that often goes under the radar, but can at times cause the most long-lasting damage. Gaslighting, or making you question your own truth and reality is one of the most twisted ways to gain control in the relationship. The two dissect and share examples of physical, economical, emotional, religious, and sexual abuse as well. We know what we are taught, and that also goes for expectations in relationships. Many of these abusive behaviors are normalized and commonly accepted as “the way things are” or blamed on the survivor because they weren’t doing “enough” of something in the relationship. Survivors are NEVER to blame for the abuse they endure. Abusers seek out vulnerabilities that they can take advantage of and use as a way to gain control.

 SELF AWARENESS: Know what your personal vulnerabilities are so you can learn to set and enforce healthy boundaries!

Courageous created and facilitates a 6-week curriculum that empowers survivors of abuse and begins the groundwork for healing. She does amazing work in the community and is a voice for domestic violence awareness, but most of all she cultivates a space that allows us to give ourselves PERMISSION to heal, love ourselves, and acknowledge our self-worth.