VSC Podcast

This week we are talking about trauma-based relationships and how to develop healthy connections with others. Join Hannah Jenarine, Education and Prevention Coordinator as she discusses trauma-bonds, red flags, and self-awareness with Leslie Pender. 

Leslie Pender is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida and the private practice owner of Seeds of Transition Counseling Services, LLC which is in the Metrowest area of Orlando, FL. Ms. Pender earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Science with a concentration in Sociology from the University of Maryland University College and her Master of Science degree from Capella University in Mental Health Counseling. It was during her residency for licensure that Ms. Pender began to focus her research on social justice advocacy and cultural competency within the mental health counseling field. Ms. Pender’s work as a LMHC has consisted of collaborative work with the Florida Department of Children and Families and other agencies in which she has advocated for practices and policies that provide mental health services for children and families within the foster care system from a trauma-informed care and culturally competent perspective.   Ms. Pender is a member of Chi Sigma Iota (International Honor Society for Counseling Students, Counseling Educators and Professional Counselors), the American Counseling Association, the Florida Counseling Association and Black Therapists Rock in which she engages with other counseling professionals locally, nationally and internationally to help eradicate the stigma as it relates to mental health and mental illness, especially within communities of color. As the wife of an Army veteran, Ms. Pender is an advocate for increasing awareness of the impact of post-traumatic stress on the marital relationship and family dynamic of the veteran. 

In addition to providing therapy services, Ms. Pender provides and has conducted workshops on self-care, stress management, women’s empowerment and guided vision planning. Ms. Pender’s philosophy towards therapy is that one must approach therapy from a holistic perspective and that having a consistent self-care regimen is vital to achieving and maintaining optimum emotional, spiritual, physical and mental wellness.  

-----------------------------------  Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

This month, we are discussing Anti-LGBTQ+ Hate Crimes . Join VSC LGBTQ+ Advocate Roxane Perret as she chats with Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the Pulse Nightclub Tragedy, and the Press Secretary for Equality Florida, and Eli Coston, a faculty member of the  Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. In this episode, we will discuss what hate crimes are, who are most often the target, how to end violence against LGBTQ+ individuals and more.

Brandon Wolf’s pronouns are he/him and he is a survivor of the 2016 Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. He is also a national advocate for LGBTQ civil rights and gun safety reform. He is the co-founder and Board Vice President of The Dru Project, a nonprofit organization that creates safe spaces in schools for LGBTQ youth, provides college funding, and empowers champions in the fight for equality. He also serves on the Boards of the One Orlando Alliance and the National Organization for Victims Assistance.

Dr. Eli Coston’s pronouns are they/them. Eli is an activist-scholar who received their PhD in Sociology from Stony Brook University, specializing in Criminology, Gender and Sexuality, and Race and Ethnicity. Their research examines how the intersections of race, class, and gender create differing experiences of marginalization and oppression for people who are LGBTQ. Eli’s research identified that there was an urgent need for better data on anti-LGBTQ hate crimes.

To stay up to date with Brandon, follow him on:

Instagram: @brandonjwolf

Twitter: @bjoewolf

Equality Florida: @equalityfl

Follow Eli on Twitter: @elicoston

https://gsws.vcu.edu/people/coston-1.html

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

This Disability Pride month we wanted to uplift the experiences of trans disabled individuals. Join VSC LGBTQ+ Advocate Roxane Perret as she chats with Basically Wonderful Founder and Director, Beck DeTrempe and Basically Wonderful Peer Supporter, Caroline Pittman about different disability related terms, some myths about disability, the intersections of being transgender and disabled, what disability pride means and more.

Beck DeTrempe uses they/them pronouns. They are a 25 year old queer non-binary disabled person living in Orlando, Florida. Beck is the founder and director of Basically Wonderful, an organization that creates peer-led accessible spaces that are welcoming to disabled and LGBTQIA+ folks. They have created and facilitated multiple spaces for disabled folks, including a peer support group, virtual social meetup, and book club; along with a book club for trans folks, and community events throughout the year. Beck is also a founding member of Access Pride Coalition, a disabled queer + trans collective that uplifts and creates access-centered spaces while advocating for queer disability justice.

Caroline Pittman uses she/they pronouns. They are 25 years old. She is Trans/Non-binary, Bi, Pansexual, Chilean American, & Mentally-ill, Mad, Neurodivergent. They have their Bachelor of Sciences (B.S.) degree in Psychology from UCF. Caroline is a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS), and she currently works as a Peer Support Facilitator & Individual Peer Supporter for Peer Support Space, as well as a Peer Support Facilitator for Basically Wonderful. In their spare time, they enjoy creating art, creative writing, reading, listening to music, practicing spirituality/astrology, thrift shopping, being in nature, & mindfully moving their body with yoga or hiking.

To stay up to date with Basically Wonderful:

Check out their website ​​https://www.basicallywonderful.online/

Follow them on Instagram at basically1derful

Stay up to date with Access Pride Coalition:

Follow them on Instagram at accesspridecoalition

You can listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel: 

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy headspace or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

Hello VSC Podcast listeners! It is bittersweet to share that our VSC Podcast host Emilie Mitchell (she/her) is departing the Victim Service Center of Central Florida to pursue her Master's of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family therapy. 

Before she officially signs off as the VSC Podcast Host, she wanted to share a message of thanks to VSC Podcast guests and listeners - thank you!!

We are also excited to announce that the VSC Podcast will continue! Please look forward to hearing from Roxane (she/her), Libba (she/they), and Kaylyn (she/her) in episodes coming soon. 

Thanks everyone! 

This Pride month we wanted to reflect on why thoughtful representation matters. Join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell and VSC LGBTQ+ Advocate Roxane Perret as they chat with Orlando Filmmaker Mel Turnage about Trans Representation in Film, its importance, and ways we can be better allies and supporters for Trans folks.

Roxane Perret (she/her) earned her Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Florida in 2021. She is currently in the Master’s of Social Work program at UCF and is set to graduate in Summer 2024. She was a volunteer with the VSC for two years and is now the LGBTQ+ Advocate.

Mel Turnage (she/her) is an Orlando filmmaker who is currently pursuing a master’s degree in film production at the University of Central Florida. Mel is predominantly a screenwriter and director, and additionally specializes in film journalism and criticism. Her research interests are in queer film, particularly New Queer and New Trans Cinema. Mel conducted her undergraduate thesis on the Trans New Wave of films.

To follow Mel and her work:

@CadenToMyHazel on twitter

OCUPADO - YouTube

The browser extension Mel mentions:

https://shinigami-eyes.github.io/

You can listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/b3_hLxB_7Ys

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

On the newest episode of the VSC Podcast we discuss the intersections of poverty and trauma. Join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell as she chats with two amazing people from United Against Poverty Paemla Rivera and Jay Silvagnoli as well as VSC’s Paola Kalb to chat about myths surrounding poverty, how poverty can affect survivors of trauma, and ways we can all help support those experiencing poverty.

Paola Kalb uses she/her/ella pronouns and is the Victim Compensation Specialist at the Victim Service Center. She is also starting her MSW program at UCF in August. She is focused on the intersectionality of poverty and trauma and is passionate about social justice.

Pamela Rivera uses she/her pronouns and joined UP Orlando as Programs Director in 2021. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Services and is a Certified Child Welfare Case Manager.  Mrs. Rivera oversees Crisis Stabilization, Emergency Food Pantry, Workforce Development and Education initiatives. She has over 20 years of experience in Human Services while working with diverse populations. Her passions include helping clients overcome adversity through strength-based approaches that empower them to make positive life choices to reach their full potential.

Jaye Silvagnoli uses she/her pronouns and joined United Against Poverty in August of 2019 as the Intake Coordinator. In 2021 was promoted to Crisis Navigator and in 2022 to the current position. She has an AS in Information Technology, a BS in Health Sciences, and currently is acquiring a Master degree in Nonprofit Management and Public Administration. Jaye oversees the intake process and crisis navigation at the Life Enrichment Center of UAP, by providing wrap around services and referrals for participants in need.

You can listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/weMrNjlAbK4

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

As we close out Mental Health Awareness Month, join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell as she chats with Baker Center for Children and Families’s Dr. Rachel Kim and VSC Program Director JoEllen Revell about Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and how it can help youth process their trauma.

Dr. Rachel Kim uses she/her pronouns and is a clinical psychologist and the Director of Implementation at the Baker Center for Children and Families. Her work focuses on the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practice (EBPs) for underserved youth in community settings.

JoEllen Revell uses she/her pronouns and is the Victim Service Center Program Director who oversees the Advocacy, Therapy and Forensic Nursing Department. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years’ experience in clinical and administrative oversight.

You can listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/cZzGaAu1X-U

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

With the new Marvel show Moon Knight, Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID is being talked about a lot in the media, but is it a proper representation? In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell as she chats with VSC therapist Michelle Langrock and Jen who has DID along with her partner Sarah as they dispel myths around this Mental Health Condition, how it is related to trauma, how well Moon Knight represented DID, and ways we can be better allies and supporters.

Michelle Langrock uses she/her pronouns and is one of our therapists at the VSC. Michelle recently attended Rollins College and completed her Master’s of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a Certificate in Family and Relationship Therapy. She is passionate about serving the community in a way that promotes individual healing and growth, fosters fulfilling interpersonal relationships, and increases social equality.

Jen uses she/her/they/them/he/him pronouns and is a DID system of 18. She has been working toward functional multiplicity since discovering her system four years ago. As part of her work she hopes to bring awareness about DID through sharing her journey with her local community as well as on social media.

Sarah uses she/her pronouns and is Jen's partner, supporter and a fierce advocate for the DID community, as well as for fellow supporters of loved ones with DID. She is a peer educator who teaches about DID and dispels myths so that it can be better understood and more healing can happen.

You can listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Ndify5YU6g8

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

On this week’s podcast join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell as she chats more about Romance scams with Advocate Rebecca D’Antonio and ScamHaters United Founder Ruth Grover. Learn about the emotional impacts love fraud can have on survivors, what healing can look like, and how amazing resources like ScamHaters United can help.

Rebecca D’Antonio uses she/her pronouns and was the victim of a Romance Scam. Survivor turned Advocate she now shares her story to give a voice for those still voiceless. While building awareness for this unconscionable crime she strives to create change. To break the infrastructure that allows scammers to operate. To update laws for the changing times; and to create resources for victims and survivors to obtain the help they need so they can tell their own story and rebuild their lives.

Ruth Grover uses she/her pronouns and resides in the United Kingdom.

She has been a widow for 14 years, her husband was a Police Officer and when he died Ruth became a target for romance fraudsters. She was shocked to discover Scams that used manipulation and romance to steal money from anyone they can target. ScamHaters United is a resource to learn from, to see who they are using and what they say and do.

From ScamHaters United: Come to us for advice and questions about that online person you have never met. We would love to make a big difference! When the money stops, the scams will stop! We are a group of women from around the world who care !

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.

What do you think of when you hear the word Scam? Did you know according to the FTC, in the last 5 years people have reported losing 1.3 billion dollars to Romance Scams - more than any other type of fraud category? On this week’s podcast Join VSC Education Coordinator Emilie Mitchell as she chats with Advocate Rebecca D’Antonio and anonymous Amy Gdala from Securewomen.org about Romance Scams, the effects they can have on victims, and ways we can be incredible supporters.

Rebecca D’Antonio uses she/her pronouns and was the victim of a Romance Scam. Survivor turned Advocate she now shares her story to give a voice for those still voiceless. While building awareness for this unconscionable crime she strives to create change. To break the infrastructure that allows scammers to operate. To update laws for the changing times; and to create resources for victims and survivors to obtain the help they need so they can tell their own story and rebuild their lives.

Amy Gdala goes by she/her/they/them pronouns and is the anonymous-styled alias of a crime fighting force that is a collective, powered by many victim survivors who work together and are out for justice. Fighting crime is dangerous. Through Amy Gdala, Secure Women moves with agility while protecting and empowering brave victim leaders to fight back.

You can listen to this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/cCjJJpsNsgo 

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

If you or someone you know needs help please reach out to securewomen.org and/or Scam Haters United.

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Trigger Warning: In this podcast we will be discussing sensitive topics such as Sexual Assault. It's important to take care of yourself while listening. Some suggestions are listening while you're in a healthy head space or knowing who you can reach out to if you become upset. Our 24/7 helpline for crisis calls based out of Central Florida is 407 500 HEAL, for the Florida state sexual helpline call (888) 956-7273. By contacting the National Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 you can get support and learn about your local resources. There is always someone ready to help.