Breaking Free: A Journey Beyond Religion and Trauma with Sarah Westbrook

Sarah Westbrook, author of Trauma Bonded: A True Story of Navigating Attachments Forged in Complex PTSD was raised in a tightly controlled, fundamentalist religious environment. Today, Sarah shares her journey of breaking free from the Mormon Church, overcoming generational cycles of trauma, and finding her authentic self. From challenging the concept of polygamy to raising children with special needs, including pediatric schizophrenia, Sarah’s story is a powerful testament to resilience, self-discovery, and personal growth. You will learn: Questioning Belief Systems: Sarah’s upbringing in the Mormon Church taught her the importance of questioning authority and doctrines, especially when they conflict with personal values and lived experiences. Her doubts about polygamy and the church's control over information were major catalysts in her journey to self-discovery. Breaking Free from Control: Sarah emphasizes the significance of recognizing and challenging controlling behaviors, whether from religious institutions, relationships, or personal narratives. Understanding the difference between genuine guidance and coercion is essential to finding one’s true path. The Power of Storytelling in Healing: As a mental health counselor and author, Sarah uses storytelling to navigate complex trauma and foster healing. She highlights the transformative power of sharing personal stories to connect with others and inspire change. Guest Bio: Sarah Westbrook is a licensed professional counselor and the author of Trauma Bonded: A True Story of Navigating Attachments Forged in Complex PTSD. Sarah is also an adoptive mother to nine children, including several with special needs, and is currently working on her second book, Raising Crazy Growing Up to Show Up, co-written with her son. Hop on my email list at lameredith.com. Want to connect on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/lizbethmeredithfan/ Find me at LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizbeth-meredith-a7026849/ Want to be a Patron? For less than a coffee, sign up at patreon.com/lizbethmeredith Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, available in paperback and audio, is now the Lifetime TV movie, Stolen By Their Father. Grounded in Grit: Turn Your Challenges Into Superpowers is now available in audio, paperback, and in digital form nearly wherever books are sold.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices