Breaking the Silence: Cindy Benezra on Healing from Childhood Trauma

Can forgiveness and healing coexist after childhood trauma? Cindy Benezra’s inspiring story shows us how. In today's episode, the brave Cindy Benezra and I break the silence around sexual abuse, offer survivors tools to reclaim their voices, and encourage open dialogue on trauma and recovery. Cindy is an Author, Speaker, and Survivor Advocate whose memoir, Under the Orange Blossoms, sheds light on her personal journey through childhood sexual abuse and the path she forged to healing and forgiveness. Through her writing, public speaking, and advocacy, Cindy’s work provides hope, education, and resources for survivors, empowering them to embrace their healing journey. Throughout this episode, Cindy Benezra shares her story as a survivor and advocate, revealing the profound psychological and physical impact of childhood abuse. She describes how dissociation helped her cope and explains the challenges of navigating family relationships with an abusive parent. Cindy also shares her emotional journey toward forgiving her father, not to excuse his actions but to find personal peace. She offers grounding techniques that help her stay present during her healing and stresses the importance of therapy and self-help. Tune in to Episode 182 of the Joy Found Here and be moved by Cindy’s courageous story of survival, her insights on breaking the cycle of abuse, finding personal healing, and advocating for open conversations on trauma and resilience. In This Episode, You Will Learn:The impact of childhood trauma and surviving abuse (2:25)Family dynamics and complexities of healing (7:49)Dissociation and grounding techniques (11:19)The struggle and process of forgiveness (17:38)Navigating anger and finding acceptance (22:03)Finding her voice and becoming an advocate (37:13)Encouragement for survivors and moving forward (42:24) Connect with Cindy Benezra:WebsiteFacebookLinkedInInstagramGet Cindy’s book! Let's Connect:WebsiteInstagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.