Journey On: Survivors Healing from Sexual Abuse & Assault

Journey On is Back! Join D.J. and guest, Ben Black, as they discuss what it means to be survivors of a global epidemic - child sexual abuse! Ben identifies as a queer person who has suffered greatly. He goes in-depth to discuss how he survived being abused within the Catholic church, and how he and others fought back - to be heard and to be seen. Ben discloses that his father is also a child sex abuse survivor, and was also abused by a clergy member. Intergenerational child abuse trauma is real and must be discussed, and addressed. 

In the Season One finale of Journey On, host D.J. Burr talks with Patrol Officer Mike Steven of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary in the U.K. Mike is a strong advocate for male survivors. He is working diligently to increase awareness about male sexual abuse and assault; increase accessibility to services for male survivors, and increase the visibility of the services provided by engaging in a social media campaign aimed at reaching those survivors who have not been able to come forward previously. Listen for the differences in how the US and the UK deliver services and legal protections to survivors. Follow Mike on Twitter @ASPMikeSteven. #ListenBelieveRespect

 Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first. 

Listener discretion is advised.  In this episode, D.J. goes off script a bit to talk with James Reyes' mom, Earlene. James' story of early childhood molestation and subsequent predatory behavior was featured on Episode Eight. Earlene insisted on giving her side of the story, as well as accounts of her experience dealing with various systems that are preventing James from getting the proper care he needs. D.J. offers Earlene the space to dive deep into her own hurt and pain and she recounts what it has been like for her to relive her own battle with sexual abuse as a child; managing her emotions as she fights for her son's rights; and moving toward acceptance of her son's emotional and mental health needs. This episode is truly heartbreaking, yet inspiring.  

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first.  

Listener discretion is advised.  In this episode of Journey On, D.J. talks with James Reyes – a 38-year-old from Tennessee. James shares his experience of being abused from 4yrs old to 12 years of age by three different people. James is not only an abuse survivor, he is also a sexual offender. It’s important to talk about James' story because it is one that we generally only hear negatives things about. Sexual predators may also be abuse survivors and their stories need to be told as well. 

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first.  

Listener discretion is advised. In this week's episode, D.J. talks with Ken, a person in long-term recovery from early childhood sexual abuse and sexual addiction. Ken has been a longtime mentor and friend to D.J. He shares his harrowing story of abuse by a trusted adult from his childhood and the subsequent battle with sex addiction that resulted from the early trauma.  

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first.  

Listener discretion is advised. D.J. talks with Gino, a 50yr old New Yorker, who was abused by his uncle as a kid. Gino talks about the lasting impact the abuse had on him. He held onto his secret until he was 31 years old and married. Gino used online resources and male survivor communities to move through the pain of his past.  

Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first. 

Listener discretion is advised.  

In this episode, DJ talks with Andre Bisquera who shares his experience as an incest abuse survivor and the challenges he has faced, as well as the support he provides to those in need. Andre who is working within the legal system to enact change for survivors regarding the statute of limitations. Many survivors find that the legal system is unfair and unjust when a survivor decides to pursue legal charges. Andre's story is full of compassion and hope for a new day for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault.    

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first. 

Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, D.J. talks with Joe Braxton. Joe is an author and advocate. His new book, Still Breathing: How to Regain Your Life After Being Robbed, chronicles Joe's struggle with realization and acceptance that he is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Joe was groomed by a family friend, someone Joe has known almost his entire life and molested and sexually assaulted him for over 24 years. Joe describes what it has been like for him as he is coming to grips with the reality that the man who molested him, was also a man he fell in love with.

Listener discretion is advised.   D.J. Burr talks with Patrick Dati, a survivor of the prolific serial killer, John Wayne Gacy. Patrick shares the heart-wrenching story of how he escaped the grasps of Gacy and found his way to becoming a national speaker on child abuse and assault; bullying; and LGBTQI rights. 

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first. 

Listener discretion is advised.  D.J. Burr interviews Loren Michaels Harris - national speaker and advocate - about his experience growing up in the foster care system, and being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse while under the care of the foster care system. 

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first.  

Listener discretion is advised.   In this week's episode, I talk with John, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and a person in long-term addiction recovery. John was abused from an early age by his father and his priest. Because of the abuse, John grew distant from the church and found other people, places, and things to fill the void left in him by his abusers. Hear John's brave story of recovery and a renewed love for himself and others.  

Hosted by D.J. Burr - a Seattle psychotherapist and author of I Just Wanted Love: Recovery of a Codependent, Sex and Love Addict.  Each episode of Journey On features real-life accounts of sexual abuse and assault. You may be triggered by what you hear. I advise self-care tools; reaching out to a friend, seeing your therapist, picking a new time to listen to the show, or even listening with a group of friends. Take care of yourself first.