cptsd awareness month
Reclaiming Our Sensuality and Sexual Autonomy After Trauma
Join us virtually from your own private and nourishing environment.
You are warmly invited
to the 5th Annual CPTSD Awareness Month, September 2024!
Each of this year’s events will be dedicated to reclaiming our sensuality and sexual autonomy after trauma. The offerings for We Are Healing Trauma & CPTSD Awareness Month have been curated specifically for you: the adult healing from childhood trauma who may be curious about learning how to rediscover and celebrate your body.
Join us virtually from your own private and nourishing environment to experience support, validation, encouragement, and insightful discussions on reclaiming our Sensuality and Sexual Autonomy after trauma.
Celebrating & empowering You, the adult survivor of trauma
Live Events & Workshops
This year we bring to you, with utmost gratitude and pleasure, live workshops and events offered by highly knowledgeable and compassionate speakers to help you reclaim your sensuality and sexual autonomy after trauma.
Discover & Empower
Discover more and begin your empowering journey of healing and self-discovery. Register now to take part in all of the content for “Reclaiming our sensuality and sexual autonomy after trauma”
15% discount if you register by Sept 30!
What's included!
Live Workshops
Join us live, throughout the month of September 2024, for a series of virtual workshops and interviews, via Zoom. Accessible from your computer, smart phone, tablet!
Bonus Content Recordings
In addition to live workshops and events offered by highly knowledgeable speakers, this year we are delighted to offer you Bonus Recorded Content for anytime access as per your comfort, convenience, and preference. Speakers providing this recorded content are Sabra Cain LMSW, Naima Mohktar, Mindy Levine, and Rhonda Firestar.
Compassion & Curiosity Cabinet
Access to previous content
Your registration fee for this years’ event also include access to all previous interviews and transcripts (if available) from 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023!
We Are Healing Trauma Wristband
All proceeds from your purchase support survivors via the Scholarship Fund which makes healing resources freely available to those in need. There are three styles, each available in two sizes, regular and large
Schedule of Events
Workshop and Interview times will be available in your members portal and updated here soon.
Schedule is subject to change. Note: not all live workshops will be recorded, please see each event for more information. The bonus recorded content will be loaded up and available for viewing anytime.
September 3rd
Free Meditation Class with Adam Friedman (live workshop only, not recorded).
Join us on September 3rd for a free Trauma-Friendly Meditation class with CPTSD Foundation meditation facilitator, Adam Friedman.
Adam hosts monthly free meditation classes, which you can learn more about here.
September 5th: 1pm eastern
Workshop with Marlee Liss
Marlee will be offering a 90-minute workshop titled, ‘Reclaiming Pleasure: A Survivor-Centred approach’ on Thursday, September 5th.
This workshop will be geared towards all survivors and will include additional resources & support for LGBTQIA+ trauma survivors. The workshop structure will be interactive and there will be space for questions, breakout rooms, group discussions, journal prompts and guided somatic practices throughout.
September 13th: 1pm eastern
Workshop with Chris and Athena Petersen (live workshop only, not recorded).
Chris will be offering a live workshop with Athena Petersen, on the topic of “Reclaiming our Sensuality and Sexual Autonomy after Trauma” for all survivors of trauma with special focus on holding compassionate space for all survivors who identify as women and/or non-binary.
This live workshop will offer insights on how to reconnect with your true self and embrace your sexual autonomy and vitality without fear or shame. It’s a process of transformation with the ultimate goal of becoming whole again, integrating mind, body and heart, and standing strong against the forces that once sought to diminish that strength.
Surviving abuse is a profound challenge that has a significant impact on an individual’s life and sense of self, as well as their relationship to their body and its connections to sensuality and sexual autonomy.
A part of healing from this trauma is rediscovering and reclaiming the self that was overshadowed by the abuser’s dominance and actions. It involves a process of unlearning the “no” that was instilled and replacing it with a “yes” to one’s own needs, desires, and well-being. This path can be complex because it requires confronting feelings of guilt, shame, and alienation, but it’s also a path to empowerment and self-affirmation.
It is a topic that needs to be talked about so that survivors can see that they are not alone and that their experiences, while uniquely their own, are still part of a shared human struggle for healing and freedom.
September 15th: 12pm eastern
Join us for a specialized 1-hour training designed for clinicians, focused on “Reclaiming Our Sensuality and Sexual Autonomy After Trauma,” in honor of CPTSD Awareness Day. This private event will delve into the complex interplay between different types of trauma, and their manifestation in clients’ behaviors and relationships. We will discuss creating a shame-free space for survivors of relational trauma and strategies to guide clients in recognizing and developing healthy sexual expression and autonomy. This workshop will equip you with tools to assist clients in befriending their bodies. (this event is not recorded).
Learning Objectives
- recognize how various forms trauma influence client behaviors and relationships, shaping treatment interventions.
- describe how to create a shame free space for clients.
- demonstrate how to teach clients physical and verbal boundaries.
- determine strategies to guide clients in recognizing and developing healthy sexual expressions.
September 19th: 1pm eastern
September 19th
Workshop with Marlee Liss
Marlee will be offering a 60-minute keynote titled, “Restorative Justice for Sexual Harm: Why I Fought for a Circle, Not a Courtroom”
There will be a talk for 40-minutes followed by a 20-minute Q&A session.
September 20th: 5pm eastern
Workshop with Graham Robinson.
Graham will be offering a live workshop for survivors of trauma hoping to reclaim their sensuality and sexual autonomy after trauma with a special focus on providing a supportive space for all trauma survivors highlighting the challenges and concerns of those who identify as men.
Register today so you don’t miss out!
Register by Setp 30th and save 15%!
Speakers for CPTSD Awareness Month Workshops
Marlee Liss, RSW
Marlee Liss is a somatic educator, social worker, and sparkle-loving lesbian Jewish feminist. She made history in the justice system when her sexual assault case became the 1st in North America to conclude with restorative justice through the courts. Since then, she has supported thousands in learning trauma-informed pleasure and inclusive consent education . Marlee’s work has been featured in Forbes, Huff Post, Buzzfeed, the Mel Robbins Show and more.
As an award-winning speaker, she’s delivered talks for: National Sexual Assault Conference, Vanderbilt University, University of Toronto, Trauma & Recovery Conference, Women’s Mental Health Conference at Yale and more. Marlee was 1 of 25 survivors on an elite panel for the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence informing federal policy and her story is currently being made into a documentary directed by Kelsey Darragh. Learn more at marleeliss.com or follow @marleeliss
Sabra Cain, LMSW
Sabra Cain joined the CPTSD Foundation as the Healing Book Club Leader in 2017. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working as a trauma therapist for children and adolescents.
Sabra enjoys helping others on their healing journeys by embracing their strengths and natural tendency toward healing.
Athena Petersen
Athena is an author, speaker, and advocate working in the field of Complex Trauma Recovery, and the Executive Director of CPTSD Foundation.
With a deep passion for helping those who have been impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), she and her staff of dedicated volunteers reach thousands of survivors weekly in over 180 countries.
This foundation is her life’s work.
She’s proud to work in tandem with expert practitioners and treatment centers, offering daily touchpoints to anyone currently in trauma therapy or who wants a safe place to come, feel heard, and validated between therapy appointments.
With 3 published books, Athena speaks publicly every week and firmly believes compassion is a priceless gift we can all give.
She also leads Daily Recovery Support Calls, and the Monday livestreams on YouTube.
Erena DiGonis, LCSW-R
Erena DiGonis, LCSW-R is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Health Coach, and Certified Clinical Anxiety and Trauma Treatment Professional. Erena has twenty-one years of practical and professional experience as an active clinician teacher and supervisor.
She has worked in a variety of community. psychiatric, in-home, and private practice settings with hundreds of complex cases, Erena is a sought-after writer, speaker, and consultant and has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire. Psychology Today, Reader’s Digest, Women’s Health, and MEL magazine. She has reviewed book proposals for the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She is also an Advisory Board Member for the CPTSD Foundation.
Erin Adams, LMSW
Erin Adams, LMSW, is a compassionate and experienced therapist dedicated to empowering individuals on their journey towards mental health and well-being. Throughout her career, Erin has supported individuals and groups facing a range of challenges, including mental health crises. depression, anxiety, trauma, and developmental disabilities. Drawing from her diverse background, she integrates various therapeutic styles, such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). and Motivational Interviewing. As a trained provider of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Erin is equipped to address the complex needs of clients navigating traumatic experiences.
Naima Mokhtar
Naima was raised as the scapegoat in a narcissistic family within a dual cultural context, French and Algerian, which led her to develop from an early age, a yearning for a deeper understanding of the meaning of love. She dedicates her life to fostering Social Wellbeing through Art Education, Empowerment and Empathy.
She is a trauma recovery coach, a cultural heritage consultant, and a facilitator for the CPTSD Foundation for which she leads an online weekly support group for the past 2 years. She specialized in Post Traumatic Growth for highly sensitive and neurodiverse individuals struggling with CPTSD due to domestic violence who want to build safe, meaningful, and loving relationships with themselves and the world.
Graham Robinson
Graham Robinson is a seasoned journalist and broadcaster with over 20 years of experience in commercial and public radio.
He is the author of the memoir Pain, Loss & Desire and is currently an advocate for men who struggle with anger, frustration, and sadness due to early childhood trauma. Graham is also a father of three beautiful children.
Mindy Levine
Mindy (she/her) leads the Trauma-Informed Yoga program at the CPTSD Foundation, which is held every Saturday at 11 a.m. EST. Utilizing TCTSY (Trauma-Sensitive Yoga) there is a focus on movement choices and empowered embodiment. Participants explore Yoga Philosophy and the practice of autonomy to support their healing journey.
Oak Arias
Oak leads Pride Support Program at CPTSD Foundation. A survivor turned thriver, Oak is dedicated to helping others find their own path on the journey of trauma recovery. Their postgraduate work in diplomacy and international affairs prepared them well for a shift in career focus from the macro, geopolitical world to micro moments helping people learn to appreciate the differences between each other. Oak is a trauma recovery professional, LGBTQIA+ advocate and public speaker. They write and speak on a wide range of topics including trauma, diversity, resilience, and dehumanization.
Rhonda Firestar
Rhonda first joined CPTSD Foundation as a member of Daily Recovery Support and the Healing Book Club. Throughout her healing journey she has continued to be a source of inspiration for our program members; a person who always wants to give back to the survivor community.
She is certified in Peer Support and is a Call Leader for the Daily Recovery Support calls.
In the fall of 2021, she helped launch the Weekly Creative Group program and continues to be the call facilitator, holding a safe space for our members each week.
Chris
Chris has been volunteering for non-profit organizations that support and protect survivors of abuse and violence for twenty years and she enjoys compassionately witnessing and holding space for them with a special focus on empowering each person to individually regain their autonomy and take back control of their lives. Chris is passionate about human dignity and understanding psychology as a key to realizing the great strength that each trauma survivor has within themselves.
Adam Friedman
Adam worked as an advertising copywriter before transitioning to a career in social services. He has since worked for organizations that help the homeless, people returning from incarceration, domestic violence survivors, individuals on welfare and military veterans. He has meditated regularly since the 1990’s, gone on many silent meditation retreats and has taught meditation in New York City jails; at nonprofits including a drug treatment center and homeless shelter; to therapists and to other individuals interested in the benefits of meditation.
Cyndi Bennett
Cyndi is the owner of Cyndi Bennett Consulting. “I am a trauma survivor with 20+ years in the Financial sector of corporate America, and I understand the challenges survivors face in trying to build their careers while overcoming the long-term effects of childhood trauma.
As a Certified Trauma Recovery Coach, I am dedicated to helping survivors overcome the effects of trauma on their career and professional goals. I will provide my clients with the essential tools to utilize their individual interests, talent, and passions to find professional and personal fulfillment.”
Discover & Empower
Discover more and begin your empowering journey of healing and self-discovery. Register now to take part in all of the content for “Reclaiming our sensuality and sexual autonomy after trauma”
15% discount if you register by Setp 30th!
