What if I told you that I was a victim of child sex abuse? As a survivor of child sexual abuse , I have a clear understanding of the importance of addressing stigma and shame as it pertains to sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape. Victims, especially young children, often do not disclose sexual abuse. Those who are witnesses of child sexual abuse, or who are trusted by survivors enough that they confide in them, are often ill-equipped to handle the responsibility. And, many times, parents...

Great Things Are Happening Here At EmpowerSurvivors! EmpowerSurvivors wants to give a very LARGE shout out and warm welcome to our newest EmpowerSurvivors certified peer support specialist and facilitator Rachel Block! Rachel participated in our weekly meetings and has shown us what it means to go from victim to survivor, to thriver! Rachel will be heading up a new EmpowerSurvivors peer support group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse beginning July 1, 2019 in Eagan, Minnesota .

Dear Sugars, I made a mistake. My daughter is 10 and has been a raging ball of hormones lately. During one of her daily “Y ou don’t understand me and how hard my life is!” tantrums, I yelled, out of sheer exhaustion: “You don’t know a hard life! When I was your age, my stepdad used to hit me and touch me inappropriately.” I regretted it immediately and left the room. I told my husband what I had said, and he thought I should talk to her about it. I didn’t. I chose to do what people always...