The Journey to Heal Podcast

Welcome to the first episode of 2026! My name is Crystal Sutherland, your host for the Journey to Heal Podcast. If you are listening today, I want you to know this first: you are safe here, you are seen, and you are deeply loved by God.

As we step into a new year, many voices tell us to “move on,” “start fresh,” or “leave the past behind.”

But for survivors of sexual abuse, the new year doesn’t automatically erase the pain, the memories, or the questions. And God does not ask us to pretend those things never happened.

Instead, Jesus invites us to walk forward with Him—at His pace, with His presence, and with His healing.

At Journey to Heal Ministries, we believe healing happens in the presence of Jesus, through faith in him - with trauma informed support, education and community

• We do not rush the process.
•  We honor each woman’s story.
•  And we trust God to lead each step.

Starting the year forward doesn’t mean leaving your story behind.
It means inviting Jesus into it more deeply—and allowing Him to guide your healing one step at a time.

I hope this episode will help you take a fresh step forward in faith and healing this year!

________

For available Journey to Heal Women's Groups visit us at: https://www.journeytohealministries.org/programs/groups

Book recommendations (via Amazon or wherever books are sold):

Journey to Heal: Seven Essential Steps of Recovery for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Crystal M. Sutherland

The Journey to Heal Companion Guide by Crsytal M. Sutherland

Voices of Hope: 21 Devotions for Healing by Survivors for Survivors

Healing Everyday by Mary DeMuth

On the Threshold of Hope by Dr. Diane Langburg

Scritpures shared in this episode:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
—Psalm 34:18

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.”
—Lamentations 3:22–23

“He tends His flock like a shepherd… He gently leads those that have young.”
—Isaiah 40:11

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
—John 8:32

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
—2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
—Exodus 14:14

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”
—Philippians 1:6

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Hello Friend! I'm so glad you're tuning in today for this special episode. 

On the podcast with me today is my friend, Dr. Jordan Martine, PT, DPT of Salt & Light Physical Therapy and Integrative Wellness in Wilmington, NC. This is Part 2 of a two-part Physical Health Series for survivors we're doing during the month of April.

Jordan has partnered and collaborated with Journey to Heal Ministries in various ways over the years, and most recently took part in a Conversation of Hope event we hosted last year, to help survivors learn more about some of physical effects of abuse and avenues available for healing.

In this episode Jordan shares her expert insight and experience in working with survivors to help them listen to their bodies and address the physical effects of unhealed trauma - from IBS to pain in sex!

I hope you find this episode insightful and helpful in your healing journey.

__________________

Resources and web links from this episode:

Books

The Body Keeps the Score by Dr. Besser Van Dur Kolk

When Sex Hurts: Understanding and Healing Pelvic Pain

Research Articles 

Trauma-informed management of patients with prior sexual trauma in pelvic health physiotherapy clinical practice 

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: Relationships with Abuse in Childhood 

To get in contact with Dr. Jordan or Salt & Light PT:

Phone: 910-970-4023 | Fax: 910-970-4022

Email: [email protected] | Web: www.saltandlightpt.com

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Have you met Adrianne Simeone , Founder of The Mama Bear Effect The Mama Bear Effect? Tune into this episode and you'll get a chance to "meet" and hear about her passion for empowering parents and caregivers to protect children from sexual abuse!

Adrianne founded the Mama Bear Effect in the fall of 2012. She is a resident of Massachusetts, with her husband, John, and their four children. A graduate of Babson College of Business, Adrianne spent most of her professional career working for her father’s business in marketing and sales. After the birth of their first child, she decided to take a break from working full time. It was after reading one too many stories about a child being sexually abused, that Adrianne felt a calling to utilize her professional skills and make a positive contribution. She believes that with the power of social media and a down-to-earth approach, The Mama Bear Effect can create change and encourage people to protect children from being sexually abused.

Adrianne has partnered with us as a Hope Run Sponsor, #END1IN10 event speaker, and advocate of our mission through the years in various ways. We're delighted to have her jump on a podcast episode to help raise awareness and equip our community, especially during April - Child Abuse Prevention Month.

To connect with Adrianne and The Mama Bear Effect go to https://www.themamabeareffect.org. You can also find more resources and insights from Adrianne via IG and FB at @mamabeareffect. 

You can also view this episode via our YouTube channel at :

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfxa32clPjk60G4JKJlx9Ew

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Join me for Part 1 of a two-part Health Series I'm doing with local practioners that serve my local community, but more importantly large number of survivors of sexual abuse. 

My first guest you'll hear from in Part 1 today is Dr. Austin Strickland. Dr. Strickland is the founder and the primary practioner of Halo Method: Wilmington's cornerstone in healing neuropathy, hormone imbalance, and other chronic conditions.

Dr. Strickland found us online and reached out earlier this year to connect on how we could collaborate to better serve survivors in our community. After learning that he serves a significant number of women who have experienced sexual abuse, I was delighted to have him come on the podcast and share some insight for you!

Did you know that your trauma responses could be indicators of essential vitamin deficiencies due to hightened levels of cortisol (the primary stress hormone) in your system? Like, vitamin C...which our body often is craving after stressful situations, but the craving feels like your body wants sugar (donuts, carbs, sweets) instead. 

This explains much of my weight battle for the past 30+ years!

In this eposide we're diving into how the trauma of sexual abuse can have long term effects on a person's body and ways he helps survivors address those effects in a holistic way. 

I hope you'll find this episode helpful in your healing journey. To learn more about Dr. Strickland and his services, you can connect with him via this website at https://www.myhalomethod.com or via his business address below!

Dr. Austin Strickland, DC, CFMP, PAK, NET

The Halo Method Team

1612 Harbour Dr.

Wilmington, NC 28401

____________________________

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

What is your New Year's Resolution? Or, are you like me and resolutions aren't your thing?

Today I'm talking about moving forward in faith and healing, My One Word for this year, and inviting you to consider where you need to make some intentional shifts towards better...and more...

Better living, healing, and relationships...and more faith, hope, and healing in this new year.

My One Word for this year is "Pray" and in this episide I'm taking time to pray for you. I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected] and share your One Word, resolution, or ways I can pray for you this year.

Walking alongside

Crystal Sutherland

**************
Book shared in episide:

My One Word by Mike Ashcraft

Key Scritpures:

Mark 11:24
Phillippians 4:6,7
1 Peter 5:6,7

Suggested reading:

Practicing the Way by John Marc Comer

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Everyone struggles at some point in knowing who they are and what their purpose in life is. This is a part of the human condition. 

For anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, it is easy to slip into a the identity of "abused", "broken", or "damaged goods." It's easy to listen to the lies we've been told about ourselves or the ones we've perceived because of the abuse we've experienced.  

But, if we want to heal and move forward in faith we need to learn the truth of who we are, according to God's Word, and choose to begin to see ourselves as God see's us.

In today's episode I'm picking up from my last episode to share some fundamental Biblical truths about who we are and Whose we are. My hope is that these truths will help to shift your persepective and encourage you to accept your true identity as a deeply loved, image-bearer, of God. 

Some of the Scriptures I share in this episode are found in:

Genesis 1 and 2
Psalm 139:13-16
Romans 5:8

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Well it's been a minute since my last episode in February! We have been super busy at Journey to Heal Ministries with all the things: groups, mentoring, and our 5th Annual Hope Run event in April - and so much more. I'm delighted to hop back on here to pick up where I left off with some encouragement and wisdom for your healing journey.

In this episode I'm talking about identity and where it stems from. This month I'm going to be sharing a series on our true identity - our God-given identity.  I'll be talking from some of what I share in my book, Journey to Heal: Seven Essential Steps of Recovery for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, as well. 
 
For anyone who has experienced sexual abuse, you know how that form of trauma  can damage your sense of identity and worth. In this first episode of my identity series I share some very fundamental Biblical truths about how God made us, what He gave us to do, and how these truths should shift our focus from our trauma stories to our God-given identity and purpose.

Thank you for tuning in today!

If this was helpful to you be sure to subscribe to the podcast for future episodes, and if you really liked it drop me a comment or share it with others!

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Are you a survivor struggling in your marriage? Especially in the area of physical intimacy?

Tune in today for Part 2 of a conversation with our host, Crystal Sutherland, and her husband Wes as they share very openly about their story as a married couple navigating marriage and intimacy in the journey of healing from  childhood sexual abuse.

This episode is the  second part of a two part conversation that Wes and Crystal share to help offer some insight and hope for married couples who have experienced similar trauma in childhood or adulthood.

Thank you for tuning in today! We hope this episode is helpful to you.

Resources shared in this episode are:

When the Woman You Love was Abused: A Husband's Guide to Helping Her Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation by Dawn Scott Jones

When the Man You Love was Abused: A Woman's Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation by Cecil Murphy

Additional resources can be found on our website at https://www.journeytohealministries.org

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

Are you a survivor struggling in your marriage? Especially in the area of physical intimacy?

Tune in today for a conversation with our host and CSA survivor, Crystal Sutherland, and her husband Wes as they talk about their story as a married couple navigating the unknown of how to do life together in light of unhealed wounds of childhood sexual abuse.

This episode is the first part of a two part conversation that Wes and Crystal share to help offer some insight and hope for married couples navigating the healing journey together.

Thank you for tuning in today! We hope this episode is helpful to you.

Resources shared in this episode are:

When the Woman You Love was Abused: A Husband's Guide to Helping Her Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation by Dawn Scott Jones

When the Man You Love was Abused: A Woman's Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation by Cecil Murphy

Additional resources can be found on our website at https://www.journeytohealministries.org

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!

On the podcast today we're chatting with our friend Michelle Viscuse about healing, hope, and preventing sexual abuse. Michelle is a survivor, blogger, writer, and Bible teacher. She has a Masters in Biblical Counseling and a passion to inspire women to find courage, hope, and freedom from their past.

Michelle says, "Jesus delivered me from a past filled with secrets and shame...and I want to help others experience the same freedom."

In this episode, Michelle shares insight on what it was like for her to establish boundaries in her family in order to create a safe place where she could heal, and the conversations and strategies she and her husband have had to implement in their home in order to become trusted adults for their own children.

Thank you for tuning in today! We hope this episode is a helpful resource for you.

Some of the resources we discuss are:

Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Darkness to Light

The Mama Bear Effect

Journey to Heal

You can connect with Michelle on her website at https://www.journeypink.com

Or via Instagram at @journeypink 

Thank you for tuning in today! I hope you were encouraged in your journey of faith and healing.

We invite you to stay connected with us on our social media pages or via our monthly newsletter:

IG/FB: @journeytohealministries.org
WEB:  www.journeytohealministries.org

Be sure to hit "subscribe" to this podcast so you don't miss the next episode! 

Journey to Heal Ministries is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit based in NC. Our mission is to help women heal from past sexual abuse by leading them to hope in Jesus Christ through providing trauma informed support, education, and community. If you would like to give towards our mission to help support our work, you can do so at https://www.journeytohealministries.org/donate. 

Thank you again for listening!