I want you to understand that God loves you, wanted you, and created you, regardless of what you have been told. He has a purpose for your life. It’s okay to leave your family of origin when the dysfunction and toxic relationships suck the life out of you and you have no other way to survive and thrive but to leave it all behind. Forgiveness is possible, and it does not mean what the person did was okay, but it will enable you to heal.
EMDR Therapy has been successfully used for over thirty years, primarily by the military, but in recent years it has been recognized as a valuable therapy for other forms of trauma. It was a lifesaving means of reprocessing painful experiences from my upbringing that continued to affect me for many years. The speed and effectiveness of this type of therapy gave me the progress toward healing that I am now benefitting from today. I give the ultimate glory to God for the healing, and I believe He gave me the strength to seek the help I needed. I encourage you, reader, to do the same.
In my book “How EMDR Transformed My Life” I share what EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) is. I also point out links and websites you can go to for more in depth information on the subject, research and successes of this therapeutic methodology, and how it was created. Visit EMDR Institute
There is both good and evil in this world, and unfortunately, our precious children can be exposed to and experience some very dark and terrible things-- nothing any child should have to endure. It’s of the utmost importance that our children have a safe haven and that we teach them that they indeed have a voice and can express when they are hurt, scared, or abused. They need to learn who to trust and how to know the difference. They need to feel heard and understood, and we adults need to take children’s words and actions seriously and do all in our power to protect them.
In this book, you will meet Joetta and her three woodland puppets. Through these puppets and their stories, children will learn what is and what is not appropriate behavior. And what to do if faced with similar situations. They will learn that they can use their voice to say “Stop!” “No!” and to tell people until they are heard.
Children will enjoy this coloring book with a maze, word search, crossword puzzle, and more. They will learn valuable tips about protection and signs to watch out for!
For maximum effect, use this activity book with You Have a Voice. This story and activity will help kids learn that they can use their voice to say “Stop!” “No!” and to tell people until they are heard.
No sharp quills like a nail.
You can’t hide in a shell.
You don’t make a smell.
But YOU HAVE A VOICE,
so be brave and tell.
Spike is a porcupine who explains to the children of a time that he trusted a friend, and then the friend attempted to hurt him. Spike shared with the children his obvious form of self defense and then reminds the children that even though they don’t have quills to defend themselves with, they do have a voice and can tell the person to STOP!!! And then tell someone who will listen to them, so it doesn’t happen again.
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Shelley is a shy little turtle who is nearly abused by a relative who frequently comes to visit. She is able to escape and hide within her shell, but she shares her story with children in this book and understands that even though they may not have a shell to hide in, they do have a voice. Shelley strongly encourages boys and girls to tell someone if something similar happens to them.
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Squirt (Who’s real name is April) is a feisty little skunk. She shares her story with children about a time that she thought she was safe in a church setting, and she wasn’t. She was forced to use her self defense odor to protect herself. She speaks to the children about embarrassment and shame and not feeling like she was listened to. Squirt wants to remind all boys and girls that they have a voice and they should not quit telling until something is done about it.
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Get involved in the "You Have a Voice" project in any way you can. We have designed plenty of resources to get you started on this journey, so we can change the current situation. And do it together!
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