Braver Collective, 10 Town Plaza #138, Durango, CO (2025)

09/01/2025

“The Avett Brothers came on my shuffle and I remembered…”

Liana Gonzales (she/her) is a emerging Austin-based writer whose work explores growth, identity, and life after child sexual abuse.

In her poem “I and Love and You”, Liana bravely shares the lasting impact of abuse at the hands of her father — the memories, questions, and emotions that follow survivors every day. Her words are visceral and descriptive, evoking a vivid image of Liana’s experience.

Thank you Liana for sharing your voice with this survivor community and reminding us healing is possible.

Click to read the full piece in our Survivor Story library: https://bravercollective.org/stories/i-and-love-and-you

08/26/2025

“Hello, everyone. My name is Vanessa. I spent the first 31 years of my life being abused. Sexually, physically, and mentally. First in foster care. Then by my adopted father. All while also being bullied constantly by everyone at school. And then spent my early adult years being abused by the father of my children.

It wasn't till 2020 that my children and I could finally escape the misery. Now 5 years later life is good. But every day is a battle for my kids and I. A battle to live and continue living. Because our pasts will forever haunt us.”
_________________________________________________________________

We know this feeling all too well —the creeping anxiety, the heavy weight of memories we thought we left behind, the endless questions of, “How do we keep going?” 💔

The reality at times is even when life improves, the past will forever haunt us. But alongside survivor author Vanessa Vega, we remind each other: surviving is 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 and healing is possible, even when it feels far away.

You are not alone. Every step forward, every breath taken, is a victory for ourselves and the ones we love.

👉𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚'𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞: https://bravercollective.org/stories/the-torment-we-carry

If you’re struggling, support is here:
📞 Dial or text 𝟗𝟖𝟖 for the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline
Or click the link in bio for 24/7 national resources for mental health support and crisis intervention.

💬Comment “💛” if you’ve ever felt this way—let’s hold space for each other.

08/25/2025

In his survivor story, Sam Poliarco shares how he found strength after years of abuse:

"She was relentless, and I was vulnerable. I was always vulnerable, and that is how she got away with convincing me to sleep with her one more time after the break up."

"My body wasn’t hers. It was never hers. Whatever she had of me was taken by force and manipulation."

A moment in Dungeons and Dragons helped him remember and reclaim himself:
"I saw myself reflected in Astarion’s red eyes. I am so much more than what you made me."

Read Sam’s full survivor story: https://bravercollective.org/stories/bloodsucker

Sam Poliarco (he/him) is a teacher in Northern New Jersey. His work has appeared in "S/He Speaks Volume 3: Voices of Women and Trans Folx" anthology. As a transgender Filipino American, Sam’s writing explores abuse in q***r relationships, POC excellence, and trans joy.

Our comments are an extension of the Braver community. When you share something – a thought, a feeling, a moment – you may be helping another survivor feel seen and a little less alone. This is a space for connection, reflection, and gentle support. This is a space for all survivors and we have the right to tell our stories the way we need to.⁠⁠
💙Follow for more healing and supportive resources. BraverCollective.org – a healing community built by, with and for survivors of sexual trauma.⁠ ⁠⁠
We believe our lived experience as survivors holds deep wisdom and healing happens in community. We’ve built a space co-designed with survivors where you can read and share stories, learn about vetted resources, and engage with insights from other survivors. Healing is possible. We are building what we need, together.

08/20/2025

Healing from trauma isn’t only about addressing and feeling the pain—it’s also about grieving what we’ve lost along the way.

As therapist Dave Satterwhite, LCPC CADC reminds us, life can feel like floating down the river. When sexual trauma happens, it’s as if we’ve lost a part of ourselves in the current. We can’t go back and retrieve it—but we can grieve it, honor it, and keep healing as the river carries us forward. 🌊

👉 Read the full piece here: https://bravercollective.org/resources/grieving-the-ideal

⁠
Our comments are an extension of the Braver community. When you share something – a thought, a feeling, a moment – you may be helping another survivor feel seen and a little less alone. This is a space for connection, reflection, and gentle support. This is a space for all survivors and we have the right to tell our stories the way we need to.⁠⁠
💙Follow for more healing and supportive resources. BraverCollective.org – a healing community built by, with and for survivors of sexual trauma.⁠ ⁠⁠
We believe our lived experience as survivors holds deep wisdom and healing happens in community. We’ve built a space co-designed with survivors where you can read and share stories, learn about vetted resources, and engage with insights from other survivors. Healing is possible. We are building what we need, together.

07/30/2025

In “Tips for Self-Regulation,” Kristin Leuke (she/her) offers creative, and trauma-informed practices tailored to help survivors regulate emotions with compassion. Explore any of the following tips at https://bravercollective.org/resources/tips-for-self-regulation:

✍️ Express your feelings with doodling, drawing, or collaging — check out specific activities from our Healing Partner, .
🌬️ Explore trauma-informed breathing techniques
🧘 Try meditations designed with survivors in mind
🚶‍♀️ Move your body in ways that feel good
📝 Reflect with morning check‑ins or journaling (or even a trauma‑responsive writer’s circle through partners like ).

Kristin Lueke is a writer, strategist, and fierce advocate for dignity, joy and collective action. She is a Chicana poet and essayist, creative strategist, and co-founder of Field of Practice .ofpractice.
Our comments are an extension of the Braver community. When you share something – a thought, a feeling, a moment – you may be helping another survivor feel seen and a little less alone. This is a space for connection, reflection, and gentle support. This is a space for all survivors and we have the right to tell our stories the way we need to.⁠⁠
💙Follow for more healing and supportive resources. BraverCollective.org – a healing community built by, with and for survivors of sexual trauma.⁠ ⁠⁠
We believe our lived experience as survivors holds deep wisdom and healing happens in community. We’ve built a space co-designed with survivors where you can read and share stories, learn about vetted resources, and engage with insights from other survivors. Healing is possible. We are building what we need, together.⁠ ⁠

⁠SurvivorVoices

07/30/2025

In her survivor story, “Open Letter to the People Who Failed Me” and her insight article, “Beyond Title IX: When the System Failed Me,” Lara (she/her) opens up about an experience no student should ever face. Less than two months into her freshman year, she was r***d during the Red Zone — the period from the start of fall semester to Thanksgiving when assaults on college campuses spike.

Lara bravely shares how she navigated the aftermath of her assault within a system that was supposed to protect her but didn’t. She reflects on what she learned, the people and policies that failed her, and the strength it took to save herself.

Her story is a stark reminder: Title IX often doesn’t deliver the protection or justice survivors deserve. So what happens when justice isn’t just?

We rise up and speak our truth. No one can take that from us. And when survivors speak, we create ripples that challenge broken systems, inspire change, and remind others that they are not alone. Lara’s voice is one of many – and together, our voices are impossible to ignore.

To read Lara’s full story in her powerful open letter and insight article visit BraverCollective.org.⁠
Our comments are an extension of the Braver community. When you share something – a thought, a feeling, a moment – you may be helping another survivor feel seen and a little less alone. This is a space for connection, reflection, and gentle support. This is a space for all survivors and we have the right to tell our stories the way we need to.⁠⁠
💙Follow for more healing and supportive resources. BraverCollective.org – a healing community built by, with and for survivors of sexual trauma.⁠ ⁠⁠
We believe our lived experience as survivors holds deep wisdom and healing happens in community. We’ve built a space co-designed with survivors where you can read and share stories, learn about vetted resources, and engage with insights from other survivors. Healing is possible. We are building what we need, together.⁠ ⁠

07/18/2025

Do you have a story to tell?
As survivors…
We have a right to tell our authentic stories
the way we need to.
in the ways that feel right to us.
In whatever medium we want to.

A painting
A collage
A photo
A poem
A video

There’s no one way to tell
your story.

We’re here to
honor it
hold it
And witness it with care.

You
Are
Not
Alone

When you’re ready, we’re listening.

Submit your survivor story at https://bravercollective.org/stories/submit

(18+ | All mediums welcome)

07/14/2025

Looking for a therapist who truly gets you—your identity, your story, your healing needs—can be overwhelming. For LGBTQ+ survivors, the search for affirming mental health care is often an uphill battle. Navigating a system that wasn’t built with us in mind is difficult enough, and in today’s political climate—where LGBTQ+ people are increasingly being targeted—it can feel even more daunting. Feeling safe is essential, yet finding that sense of safety in a health care professional can be incredibly hard.

That’s why we partnered with Dr. Natalie Rose Dille (they/she) of Dille Psychological Services to create “Finding a Q***r Affirming Therapist.” This guide is here to help you recognize what affirming care may look like, provide you with the right questions to ask, and support in finding the right provider who honors your full self.

Read full article here: https://bravercollective.org/resources/finding-a-q***r-affirming-therapist

***r ***rcommunity +Survivors

07/10/2025

“I have always considered myself a private person, keeping things inside, afraid to speak up, or express myself.”

Janet Goldblatt Holmes ( / ) found comfort in movement — long before she found the words to speak her truth. For years, dance was her safe space. Later, writing and painting helped her reclaim her voice, her body, and her sense of calm.
Her painting, Echo Lake, was inspired by a hike in Revelstoke National Park and reflects the quiet strength and healing power she finds in nature. It's a visual expression of her journey — from holding pain in silence to releasing it through creative expression.

✨ Click to read Janet’s full survivor story and how Echo Lake inspired her recovery — https://bravercollective.org/stories/drawing-on-the-rhythm-of-nature

Janet is a survivor, artist, and Writing Workshop Coordinator with The Stories We Tell at the Center for Story and Witness (), formerly known as The Voices and Faces Project — storyandwitness.org.
Our comments are an extension of the Braver community. When you share something – a thought, a feeling, a moment – you may be helping another survivor feel seen and a little less alone. This is a space for connection, reflection, and gentle support. This is a space for all survivors and we have the right to tell our stories the way we need to.⁠⁠
💙Follow for more healing and supportive resources. BraverCollective.org – a healing community built by, with and for survivors of sexual trauma.⁠ ⁠⁠
We believe our lived experience as survivors holds deep wisdom and healing happens in community. We’ve built a space co-designed with survivors where you can read and share stories, learn about vetted resources, and engage with insights from other survivors. Healing is possible. We are building what we need, together.⁠ ⁠

07/09/2025

“Every time another piece of innocence dies, red absorbs it.”

Red isn’t just a color—it’s memory. It’s what’s taken and what’s endured. It’s the mark left by trauma, the weight of silence, and the ache that lingers long after.

But red is also a signal—a turning point. Sometimes, it means survival. Sometimes, it means healing.

In “A Life Lived in Red,” lays bare a life shaped by childhood abuse and the quiet resilience that follows. Her story echoes what so many carry but rarely name.

❤️‍🔥 Click to read her full story in our Survivor Library here: https://bravercollective.org/stories/a-life-lived-in-red

07/01/2025

🐟 “Fish is about being hurt, and how that pain didn’t just pass – it changed me.”

In this haunting, visceral piece titled, “FISH”, Lauren (she/her) uses poetry to navigate the aftermath of sexual abuse – the confusion, the silence, the performance, the pain. It’s about what lingers after being sexually abused, and the deep, private strength it takes to rebuild in your own way.

👉Click to read the full piece in our survivor story library: https://bravercollective.org/stories/fish

💬Drop a comment if Lauren’s experience resonates with your own journey.
Our comments are an extension of the Braver community. When you share something – a thought, a feeling, a moment – you may be helping another survivor feel seen and a little less alone. This is a space for connection, reflection, and gentle support. This is a space for all survivors and we have the right to tell our stories the way we need to.
💙Follow for more healing and supportive resources. BraverCollective.org – a healing community built by, with and for survivors of sexual trauma.⁠ ⁠
We believe our lived experience as survivors holds deep wisdom and healing happens in community. We’ve built a space co-designed with survivors where you can read and share stories, learn about vetted resources, and engage with insights from other survivors. Healing is possible. We are building what we need, together.⁠

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