Emily Bernath, an author and advocate, shares her journey of faith, healing, and finding purpose after experiencing SA and finding herself at her lowest point. She discusses the challenges of writing about her trauma and the importance of including the personal element in her books. Emily also talks about her faith and how it played a role in her healing process.

She emphasizes the need for society to break the stigma around sexual assault and believe survivors. The conversation touches on the experiences of military spouses and the systemic issues they face when reporting domestic violence. Overall, Emily's story highlights the power of finding truth, healing, and purpose after trauma. In this conversation, Emily discusses her journey as a survivor of sexual assault and her advocacy work. She emphasizes the importance of finding peace and forgiveness in order to heal and regain control over one's life. Emily also talks about her involvement with the Reveal to Heal International nonprofit, which aims to create safe spaces for survivors to share their stories. She shares her experiences with speaking engagements and the challenges of navigating the military culture as a survivor.

Emily hopes to continue making an impact through her advocacy work and plans to write a fourth book focused on advocacy.

Resources:

Emily’s Website: https://www.emilybernathauthor.com/books/

Reveal to Heal International: https://revealtohealinternational.com/

Takeaways 

• Including the personal element in writing about trauma can be challenging but necessary for healing and connecting with readers.


• Believing survivors of SA is crucial in breaking the stigma and providing support.


• Faith can play a significant role in the healing process and finding purpose after trauma.


• Systemic issues exist in the military regarding the reporting of domestic violence, leading to isolation and lack of support for military spouses.


• Finding truth, healing, and purpose after trauma requires self-compassion, seeking support, and exploring different coping mechanisms.


• Finding peace and forgiveness is essential for healing and regaining control over one's life after experiencing sexual assault.


• Creating safe spaces for survivors to share their stories is crucial in the healing process.


• Navigating the military culture as a survivor of sexual assault can be challenging, but there are support organizations and resources available.
  Speaking engagements provide an opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for survivors of sexual assault.


• The younger generation, particularly Gen Z, is more aware and supportive of social justice issues, including sexual assault.


• Overcoming shame and fear is a journey that requires self-acceptance and the support of others.


• Survivors can seek help and support from rape crisis centers and hotlines.
  Sharing one's story and advocating for change can be empowering and help in the healing process.
  
  

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
04:09 Loss of Relationships and Isolation
08:27 Faith and Relationship with God
12:30 Writing and Publishing Journey
15:47 Finding Truth and Purpose
19:41 Challenges in Responding to Sexual Assault Reports
23:39 The Importance of Taking Action and Supporting Survivors
27:22 The Role of Spirituality in Healing
30:39 Creating Safe Spaces for Survivors
31:35 Navigating Trust and Relationships
33:04 Emily's Involvement in Advocacy
35:25 The Impact of Sexual Assault in the Military
36:54 Challenges of the Military Culture
38:02 Toxic Influences and the Future
41:03 Emily's Future Plans and Writing
43:33 Overcoming Shame and Fear 4
5:06 Navigating the Military Culture as a Survivor
48:00 The Healing Power of Advocacy
49:30 Seeking Help and Support
53:21 Empowerment Through Sharing