Creating Safe Spaces for Healing

Once upon a time, a 17-year-old girl was in a relationship with a man who meant her no good. He attacked her, and in the process of trying to get away, she jumped off a retainer wall and broke her ankle. She didn't escape. She landed in a hospital; and had to learn how to walk again. She had to quit playing sports. She lied to her mother, protected him, and stayed with him for 4 months after the incident occurred. To this day every time it rains she remembers...

That girl was me.

Tonight in my women's batterer intervention class, we talked about things that we don't forgive ourselves for. These beautiful women shared their stories of trauma, and I listened with unending support, but also from a place of deep understanding.
I am not glad that this is a part of the story of Amber. God did not intend for this to happen to me to make me stronger, or to prepare me to do this work. My God would never put me in harm just to turn me into a great therapist. I do not go to work and think "thank God for this personal experience I have with this topic." Being a survivor of domestic violence is not a gift.

Instead, I choose to live in my truth. I'm a great therapist who just so happens to be many things and one of those things is a survivor of domestic violence. Like me, each of these women and each of these men that I work with are more than just a story, more than just a situation. it is my humanity that makes me a good therapist. it is their humanity that makes them worthy of the chance to have abundant life. I thank God for the work I do. one day it is my prayer that the world does not need a therapist who do what I do.~ Rev. Amber Burgin

‪#‎EndDomesticViolence‬
‪#‎DVAM2015‬
‪#‎Realstories‬
Be part of the community that helps and heals. We thank Rev. Amber Burgin for doing the work to help others heal!

Remember, for adolescents, rates of experiencing some form of dating violence vary but it is estimated that at least 20% of teens experience dating violence. Women age 16 to 24 experience the highest per capita rate of intimate partner/domestic violence.
Have conversation with the teens in your life today. Don't ignore the signs.