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All Memories Are Not Created Equal

An ordinary memory sits like a photograph in a family album. It’s always available to visit by thumbing through the album. A trauma memory is not pasted into the photo album; like getting lost in the attic of our mind, it goes into the unconscious. Dissociation happens when a trauma memory becomes a photo ripped into pieces and scattered across the attic floor. Join us as we learn about a powerful novel that has taken the dry discussion of trauma memories and dissociation and turned it into a powerful and moving experience of a young girl’s journey and struggle with dissociation.

Jerry Sandusky: A Case Study for Boundaries in Youth-Serving Organizations

In this first segment, we are going to take the time to talk about Jerry Sandusky and the Penn State case as well as the broader topic of child sexual abuse in youth-serving organizations. We’re going to use the Jerry Sandusky case as case study and guideline for concerns that we see in youth-serving organizations and how we can put very specific boundaries and policies in place to protect kids in those environments.

Victim’s Rights – Understanding Yours

The legal process that surrounds child sexual abuse cases can be overwhelming to say the least. What is the legal process after your child discloses and you report? What kind of evidence does the District Attorney need to file charges? What are the statute of limitations for adult survivors? What are your rights as a victim in the criminal court process? Can you sue your perpetrator or the organization they worked for in civil court? Join us as we explore the legal aspects of sexual abuse cases with a formal prosecutor and a criminal lawyer who specializes in victim’s rights and the trial attorney who represents abuse victims in civil court.

Child Trafficking and the Prostitution of Teens in Our Neighborhoods

When crisis strikes how can we make the legal and recovery process as easy as possible for the victims and their families? We’ll have the opportunity to explore two successful models.

The Role of the Media in the Resolution of the Child Sexual Abuse Pandemic

Sensationalized story of stranger danger? A true reflection of the impact of abuse by our inner circle? Or a focus on prevention? - What does the media portray? The Berkeley Media Studies Group researched a specific period in time to see what the media was writing about with regards to child sexual abuse and we'll talk with the lead researcher to understand her findings and discuss the impact of those findings.

The Journey to Wholeness

There's no better way to understand the impact of child sexual abuse than to experience the pain and healing through the angelic voice of a survivor. You will be moved to anger and to tears as you join Cici on her journey, as she shares it with you through song.

Building Confident Kids with Age Appropriate Sexual Boundaries

Gain an understanding of age appropriate sexual behavior, how to reinstate strong sexual boundaries after abuse and how children's empowerment and sex education programs can lower the risk of abuse.

Community Initiatives that Teach Adults to Prevent, Recognize and React Responsibly to Child Sexual

Learn the 7 Steps to protecting your children from child sexual abuse and how several communities have utilized Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children program to educate adults on how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly.

It's Your Turn, Heal Emotional Trauma NOW!

When the fight or flight reactions occur massively or continuously the normal balancing responses may be unable to end the continuous adrenaline rushes or life saving actions interfering with perception, cognition, and emotions appropriate in a secure environment. We'll hear from two experts in the field of trauma and learn how to end the overwhelming upset associated with past traumatic stress events in moments and bring yourself back to the here and now where you are safe to operate with a calm mind and relaxed body.

Stories of Healing and the Movement to End Child Sexual Abuse

In this segment you'll be deeply inspired by the actions of a "bystander" willing to step up and be the voice for an innocent child. You'll also learn how this bystander took her call to protect a single child and married with her extensive experience in TV and film to create a documentary that shares the real life stories of survivors healing.

Teaching Safety Rules through Kid-Friendly Programs - A Winning Combination

Learn about programs you can use in your community to teach kids, from preschool to middle school, about child sexual abuse safety and hear from experts who have had proven success in their communities.

Seeing the Silver Lining Hidden Within Your Traumatic Childhood

Just because child sexual abuse happened TO YOU, does not mean it IS YOU. Join us as we explore one woman's transformational yoga program to help survivors recapture themselves and the joy they deserve and another woman's inspirational short story entitled Sinlessness.

Understanding What Causes People to Offend and the Opportunities for Early Intervention

Expand your vision of child sexual abuse prevention by understanding what causes people to offend and acquire practical early detection screening tools for parents, teachers, counselors, and physicians.

Building a Bridge Out of Brokenness

How does a good God let bad things happen to children? Where was God when I was being abused? Why didn't God protect me? Many survivors have asked themselves these questions over the years and in this segment you'll hear about the spiritual journey of three survivors who dared to ask the questions and listen for the answers. Join us as we embrace and celebrate spirituality as part of the full and joyous recovery from child sexual abuse.

Recognizing Satanic Ritual Abuse

As we delve into the broad spectrum of topics related to child sexual abuse, Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) remains as one of the most difficult. In this segment, you'll gain a basic understanding of what SRA is and the unique impact it has on its victims. You'll also learn to recognize indicators of satanic ritual abuse and how to provide a supportive environment for survivors.

Together We Can Prevent the Sexual Abuse of Children

In this segment we'll discuss a variety of tools available to help adults who are concerned about their own thoughts of inappropriate behavior toward children or the behavior of others. We'll learn about what people need in order to overcome their fear and face the fact that a friend or loved one may be hurting a child.

Sometimes Abuse is a Package Deal

The Ace Study showed that one third of the population being studied experienced at least one category of childhood trauma. If any one category was experienced, there was an 87% chance that at least one additional category was present. One in six individuals in the study experienced 4 or more categories of childhood trauma and one in nine experienced 5 or more categories. Join us as we learn from a victim of multiple types of abuse what childhood was really like, how it impacted him as an adult and how he has triumphantly overcome his past.

The Missing Link to Child Sexual Abuse Prevention - Offender Policy, Treatment and Community Reentry

Learn how your understanding and critical analysis of public policy and community practices for handling offenders directly impacts your community's ability to protect children.

Keeping Kids Safe on the Internet

Learn about the growing demand for child pornography, the eminent danger of on-line predators, what the government is doing to combat these crimes against children and how you can use interactive games in your home and schools to teach children how to recognize potential danger on-line.

Why People Perpetrate and Can They Be Helped?

In our discussion, we'll gain insight about what causes people to perpetrate and an understanding of who can be helped and who cannot. In addition, we'll learn about existing treatment programs and how they have impacted the recidivism rate and therefore, the safety of our children.

Model Programs for Abuse Victims and Their Families

When crisis strikes how can we make the legal and recovery process as easy as possible for the victims and their families? We’ll have the opportunity to explore two successful models.

The Best Kept Secret: Mother-Daughter Sexual Abuse

In this moving dialog, we'll explore the statistics of mother-daughter sexual abuse and the unique impact of trauma experienced within the process of maternal nurturing. We'll also discuss the psychological profile of maternal abusers and the myths that may keep us from identifying and effectively intervening in cases of mother-daughter abuse.

Child Sexual Abuse Education in Schools - Why do we need it?

Forty percent of child sexual abuse happens at the hands of a family member. In these cases, kids may not feel comfortable telling someone at home; talking about it at school let's kids know there are trusted adults outside their home who they can talk to and who will help. In addition, educating kids in school can extend the reach of vital prevention information that may not be being shared at home.

From Trauma to Triumph: How to Reduce the Negative Impact of Sexual Abuse on the Childbearing Woman

Increase your compassion and understanding of the impacts of pregnancy and childbirth on female childhood sexual abuse survivors. Survivors will learn to embrace childbirth as a transformational healing opportunity while childbirth professionals will learn how to effectively support survivors through this process.

Disclosure: The Shock, the Journey and Resounding Hope for Non-Offending Parents

For most children, disclosure is the end of their trauma; for their family, it’s just the beginning. The impact of child sexual abuse on the family unit as a whole is substantial, particularly in the case of incest. We will drive into the vast array of emotions felt by non-offending parents and discuss the practical aspects of getting through the initial crisis period and the months to come. We’ll also look at valuable tools that non-offending parents can use to overcome the trauma and lay a strong foundation for the future of their family.

Dare to Dream: Empowering Boys and Men Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse

Expand your understanding of the impact of child sexual abuse on boys and men. Male survivors will gain hope and be empowered to actively engage in their healing and others will learn how their understanding and compassion may be all that's needed for a male in their life to disclose and begin his healing journey.

Child Sexual Abuse in the Native American Culture

For most children, disclosure is the end of their trauma; for their family, it is just the beginning. The impact of sexual abuse on the family unit as a hold is substantial, particularly in the case of incest. We'll dive into the vast array of emotions felt by non-offending parents and discuss the practical aspects of getting through the initial crisis period and the months to come. We'll also look at valuable tools that allow non-offending parents to overcome the trauma and lay a strong foundation for the future of their family.

Healing from Organized Sexual Abuse and Violence

Raise your awareness of how some offenders use an organized plan of sexual, physical and emotional abuse as well as violence as a means of controlling children and adults. Learn how one group of survivors and professionals has created a support group that provides victims of this type of severe trauma a safe place to heal and how you can use their model in your community.

Empowering Children to Use Their Voice

It's a normal and healthy process for children to separate from their parents as they grow up which means we can't always be there to protect them. However, we can teach them to recognize danger and empower them to use their voice in the face of danger and afterwards. In this hour we'll learn about tools that adults can use at home to teach kids about body safety.

Who's Protecting Children's Rights?: The Challenges of the Family and Criminal Court Systems

Explore the many ways our court systems fail to protect children's rights; from placing the burden of proof on young children, to deverting attention to battling parents in custody proceedings; from inadequate training to budget constraints. Learn what you can do to help improve the system in your community.

Confrontation, Compassion and Forgiveness: A Triage for Transformation

A survivor of clergy abuse who is now a treatment professional for sex offenders interfaces with a recovering child molester through restorative therapy.

Key Elements to a Safer Community

Join us as we explore a successful sex offender risk management model that results in lower incarceration rates as well as lower recidivism rates. We'll talk in detail about assessing risk, community notification, and community members' active involvement in sex offender supervision.

How to Listen So People Will Tell: Creating a Safe Place for Survivors

Learn how you can create a safe place for survivors of child sexual abuse to talk. Whether you're a medical professional, parent, sibling, friend, neighbor or colleague - you could be the one who brings a child to safety or an adult survivor to healing just by listening.

Breaking the Cycle

Breaking the Cycle lays out one of the most powerful approaches to overcoming the impact of childhood trauma that I've ever seen. Dr. Riggin's unique method includes an analytical approach to emotional healing that makes it a valuable tool for any survivor but is especially useful for those who struggle to connect with their emotions. The easy to follow step-by-step format can be used by individuals or as a workbook for support groups. Truly a gift to the world!

This interview was recorded in September 2011 just weeks before Dr. Sandra Riggin passed away. Join us as we take an in-depth look into Sandy's revised book, Breaking the Cycle. She worked tirelessly in her final weeks to complete the book so she could leave it with us as her parting gift. We miss you and love you Sandy!

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