Trauma Interrupted with Jan Broberg

In today's episode Jan is joined by Brenda Sandquist who is the founder and executive director for Xquisite, a nonprofit, established in 2012, specifically designed to walk alongside victims of human trafficking, sexual assault, and intimate terrorism (domestic violence) to bring them from a place of exploitation, not only surviving but to thrive in their next steps for a life free from what has held them captive.

Content advisory: human trafficking, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.

She is passionate about leading a movement of strong women who have become empowered to have their voices heard and to shatter secrets they have had to live under, exposing their truth to become Diamond Strong.  Brenda has worked to empower women over 30 years helping them to realize that no matter what life has presented them, their value remains strong.  Brenda has expanded Xquisite’s reach to establish the Diamond Strong Freedom Center, a center dedicated to bring freedom and empowerment for sexually exploited women and survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault and intimate terrorism to live healthy, flourishing lives.  The Diamond Strong Freedom Center and it’s Drop-In Center is ready to serve with a variety of services that are free, confidential, nonjudgmental with no strings attached, which will bring hope, courage and a voice for survivors.  It is Brenda’s passion to champion the women and children served at Xquisite, to realize their dreams can be their reality.

The Jan Broberg Show and everyone at the foundation believe, hear, and support all survivors.  Thank you for listening!

Check out the resources Xquisite has to offer at Xquisite.org
Or call their 24 hour hotline at: 775-434-7255
Follow on Insta: @xquisite_nonprofit

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

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Today Jan is joined by Beth Light, LCSW, who is a Mental Health Therapist and the Clinical Director at the Child Safety Center of White County.

She graduated from Harding University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 2005 and from University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Master of Social Work degree in 2009. Beth has roughly 14 years of experience in the mental health field, and over 10 years of experience specific to mental health and childhood trauma. She has completed advanced trainings in TF-CBT for the treatment of Complex Trauma and for Problematic Sexual Behaviors, and is nationally certified in TF-CBT. Beth serves as a TF-CBT consultant for the UAMS ARBEST Project, and has also completed trainings in EMDR and CPP, both evidence-based treatments for trauma in children. They discuss the studies, trials, and practices that pioneered treating children who have suffered trauma, the highlights and lowlights of social work, and how self-care is a must when your job is being surrounded by some of the worst days in peoples lives.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

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Today Jan is again joined by Claude L. King, LCPC.

Claude is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Employee Assistance Consultant based in the Chicagoland Area with 13 years of experience in the mental health field. He specializes in working with teens, young adults, and working professionals with a focus on work-life balance, employee mental health, emotional regulation, stress-management, mindfulness, positive parenting, and healthy masculinity. In addition to his therapy practice, Claude is the founder of CK Psych and conducts trainings and workshops on various mental health and wellness topics for corporations and community-based organizations. Through his work, Claude is committed to promoting mental wellness, improving emotional health, and empowering individuals to live their best lives. He also has significant experience working with youth and adults who have been victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse. To start off Claude and Jan continue and clarify the previous discussion on minor attraction, which then turns to the meat of the episode where Claude and Jan discuss how important it is to create an environment where children are able to speak up and ask questions, because if they aren't asking them to you, they're getting answers from someone else.

Mentioned References:
It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
Roadmaps to Recovery

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
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💌 Fan Mail

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Jan introduces and interviews longtime friend and colleague Dave Markel.

Content advisory: discussion of abuse and trauma.

Dave is a retired detective and longtime professional in the area of trauma and developer of Trauma Informed Interview Principles (T.I.I.Ps). He has spent years perfecting a delicate method of interviewing trauma survivors and teaching law enforcement agencies across the country how to talk to survivors. This episode offers a perspective on abuse from someone who’s been a detective, studied and taught the neurology of trauma, and has a wide professional network in this field. 

Be sure to check out Dave Markel's podcast S.A.S.S.:
https://sexassaultsurvivorstories.libsyn.com/ 

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
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✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒  The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Survivor Circle 

💌 Fan Mail

Support the show

Today, Jan is joined by Abigail Alvarado who is here to tell her harrowing story.

Content advisory: child sexual abuse, grooming, molestation, forced surrogacy, and brainwashing.

Starting at age 9, Abigail and her siblings were removed from the crack house they called home by Child Protective Services (CPS). After a short stay in a shelter, their uncle took them in and shortly thereafter adopted them. Not long after is when the progressive nightmare began. Starting with the same old story of grooming into molestation into sexual abuse while the mother figure doesn't believe her claims, but then after nearly 7 years of constant abuse and brainwashing is where the story takes a hard turn: forced surrogacy. Having 3 children over the next 6-7 years, Abigail watched in horror as her children are raised to believe she is their older sister and giving their love to a pair of sadistic rapists who now have her trapped, or her children will be their next victims. Enter Rudy, a year of secretive on again off again connections, and finally the dam bursts, she tells him her story, and he believes her. Beyond that, he believes in her and offers his assistance if she can manage to escape with her children, which she does. 24 and free she begins a new life with the man she has grown to love and trust. Happily ever after does exist it turns out.

Buy her book: I Am Abigail: A Texas Woman's Childhood Nightmare—and Her Escape From Hell as a Sex Slave/Survivor

Follow Abigail On Instagram: Abigailalvarado_survivor

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Does our past define us?

Content advisory: neglect, abuse, and suicidal ideation.

Agusta Borden grew up without encouragement, resources, and attention. Divorce, neglect, and various kinds of abuse left her lonely by default, no matter who she was with. In this heartfelt one-on-one, Agusta tells Jan how she climbed out of the darkest headspace imaginable by listening to a true friend and holding on to one healthy outlet at a time.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒  The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

💌 Fan Mail

Support the show

Today, Jan is joined by Elizabeth Rose, who shares her story of neglect and childhood sexual abuse that began early on in her life.

Content advisory: neglect, substance abuse, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, rape, child trafficking, exploitation, attempted suicide, and graphic discussion of abuse-related injuries.

We are re-airing this episode in light of Human Trafficking Awareness Day (January 11th). Hope and strength goes out to all victims, suffering and saved.

She talks about the normalization of abuse in her home and the grooming and manipulation she experienced. Being trafficked as a teenager, abandoned by her mother, and living in multiple foster care homes as an adolescent, Elizabeth Rose has a unique perspective on the systemic injustices that are faced by children who are neglected, abused and exploited. In this conversation, Jan and Elizabeth Rose discuss the importance of education, advocacy, trauma-informed care, and support for survivors of human trafficking. They highlight the need for community belief and understanding, as well as the role of legislation in preventing and addressing trafficking.  They also discuss the notion that many people believe human trafficking only occurs far away, but in reality, it’s happening right here in North America, often perpetrated by someone familiar to us.  Lastly, they discuss the systemic failures in the support systems for survivors and the need for resources as well as education in the community. The conversation ends with a message of hope and resilience for all survivors and Elizabeth Rose shares about how being an advocate for others has helped her in her healing journey.

Elizabeth Rose would like to highlight:
The Joy Smith Foundation
Luma & Bloom

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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✍ Share Your Story
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
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📒  The Jan Broberg Story
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Today Jan and her mother MaryAnn Broberg come together and we get our first real introduction to MaryAnn.

Content advisory: child sexual abuse.

In loving memory of MaryAnn Buck Broberg, October 16, 1938 to December 31, 2025.

Amidst this introduction they revisit the whole series of A Friend of the Family with direct insight from MaryAnn, talk about MaryAnn's social work, and reminisce on Robert Broberg.

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
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Jan Broberg Foundation:
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Support the show

Today, Jan is again joined by Dr. Ute Liersch, a Chartered Counselling and Coaching Psychologist.

Content advisory: child sexual abuse and mild language.

In the second part of their conversation, Jan and Dr. Ute delve into the practicalities of healing. They discuss how to navigate major life decisions without the burden of hindsight, and Dr. Ute shares her powerful "Google Calendar" method for becoming your own witness. She reveals how volunteering in Sri Lanka after surviving cancer restored her smile and spirit. The dialogue emphasizes a body-first approach to trauma, explaining why we must listen to our body's language. They conclude by exploring how creative expression aids healing and the importance of "witnessing" over fixing, as Dr. Ute introduces her new  book Minimalist Guide to Building Resilience.

Buy Dr. Ute Liersch’s Book:
A Minimalist’s Guide to Becoming Resilient

Mentioned Resources:
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram   

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒  The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

💌 Fan Mail

Support the show

Today, Jan is joined by Dr. Ute Liersch, a Chartered Counselling and Coaching Psychologist.

Content advisory: child sexual abuse and mild language.

They begin by exploring how being labeled "stupid" in a rigid school system shaped Dr. Ute's early life and self-concept. They discuss the critical difference between experiencing victimhood and choosing victimization. Dr. Ute shares her philosophy of honoring the past, respecting the present, and being excited for the future. The conversation delves into reframing difficult emotions as vital data, understanding anger as a signal of injustice, and the necessity of compassion, curiosity, and courage to heal from trauma, toxic relationships, and life's inevitable hardships.

Buy Dr. Ute Liersch’s Book:
A Minimalist’s Guide to Becoming Resilient

Mentioned Resources:
The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk 

If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal ideation, please access the resources below:

National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call/Text 988
National Sexual Assault Hotline  (RAINN) : 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Alliance for Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264

Subscribe / Support / Contact:
🍎 Review on Apple
🎶 Review on Spotify
✍ Share Your Story
🌐 Podcast Website
🔴 YouTube
📷 Instagram   

Jan Broberg Foundation:
💝 Foundation Website
📒  The Jan Broberg Story
🗞 Sign Up For Our Newsletter
💞 Thrivivors

💌 Fan Mail

Support the show