The Incest AWARE Alliance

Abigail Teixeira is a speaker, trauma recovery coach, leadership guide, writer, and mother of four with over a decade of experience guiding women through deep personal and professional transformation. Drawing from her lived experience as a cycle-breaker, CPTSD survivor, and former nurse, Abigail brings a trauma-informed, identity-shifting approach to coaching that integrates nervous system healing, ancestral wisdom, and feminine leadership. Her work centers BIPOC women and femmes who are reclaiming their voice, income, and power — and leading from a place of truth and wholeness. Through her signature community gatherings, coaching programs, and keynote talks, Abigail invites others into reclamation, liberation, and legacy.

Alice is an Australian writer whose memoir Resolve addresses the often hidden reality of sibling
sexual abuse. Blending lived experience with thoughtful inquiry, the book offers language, clarity
and a compassionate way into longavoided conversations. Resolve is available through Bookshop.org
in support of IncestAware, and also in audio format for those who prefer listening to difficult
material.

PhD in Counseling Psychology with 6+ years of client-centered services, research, and writing experience.

Andrea conducts community and lived-experience driven research for survivors of trauma in and outside the military, persons with disabilities, caregivers for these individuals, and policies/law impacting persons with disabilities (PTSD is a disability) and their families.

Andrea Leeb is a writer and survivor advocate living in Venice Beach, California. Andrea has a BSN from Georgetown University, a JD from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law and an MFA from Bennington College. Her award-winning memoir about surviving childhood sexual assault, Such A Pretty Picture, was a USA Today bestseller. Previously, Andrea worked both as an attorney and as a registered nurse. Currently, she dedicates her time to advocating for survivors of sexual assault, mentoring young women from post conflict and climate challenged countries and writing. Andrea is a member of the UCLA Rape Treatment Center Advisory Board of Directors.

ANNE PESHKA
Author • Speaker • Certified Core Energy Coach
Anne Peshka knows what it is to carry a story that was never supposed to be yours.
As a survivor of childhood incest and abuse, Anne spent years beneath the weight of silence, shame, and labels she never chose. She understands the particular loneliness of this kind of pain — the way it hides, the way it shapes everything, and the way it can make freedom feel impossible.
It is not impossible. Anne is proof.
In her memoir Trauma Recycled, Anne writes with raw honesty about adoption, abuse, addiction, and the long road back to herself. Not a tidy story. A true one.
Today Anne works as a Certified Core Energy Coach, speaker, and workshop facilitator helping people release the stories that were handed to them and build lives rooted in truth, freedom, and purpose. Her work creates spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest — and strong enough to move.
Trauma Recycled — available on Amazon
annepeshka.com

AunRika is a student-survivor and currently a doctoral candidate in the Sociology program at the University of Michigan. She uses film, music, theatre and television to talk about power and social change. She believes that popular culture is more accessible and affordable to the public.

Babs Walters is on mission to raise the voices of other survivors and family secret keepers through facilitating journal workshops, oral histories and anonymous sharing. By navigating the healing process together, we discover that our voices matter, our stories are valid, and we are not alone.

Beth Jones is a child sexual abuse and bullying survivor, the HEALing Mentor, author, speaker, and host of the podcast Let's HEAL! with Beth Jones. She offers transformational coaching and group programs that guide survivors from pain to purpose through her HEAL Framework™.

Creator of a body-safety program called the Bathing Suit Zone. Serves as Legislative Lead for the Legislative Group and bookkeeper for Incest Aware. Experience in tax and accounting. Girl Dad.

Brinn Langdale is a sibling sexual abuse survivor, a California licensed therapist, writer, speaker and host of a podcast. She’s the founder of Wholistic Approach, a transformational coaching program focused on healing the whole you.

​

Chloe works with clients who are survivors of incest, and am on an ongoing journey to learn how to best be of support in their recovery.

Claire Appelmans teaches parents and caregivers how to educate children about bodies, boundaries and sexuality. Her work helps clients learn which physical and digital boundaries to put in place to protect children from sexual assault.

Colleen Mullowney is a lived experience expert and advocate for awareness, education, and systemic change around Sibling Sexual Trauma and Abuse (SSTA). She holds a master’s degree in Community Psychology from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and in 2024 founded SSTA AWARE to shed light on this often-overlooked form of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Colleen’s work focuses on sharing prevalence data, identifying patterns, and promoting best practices for healing, recovery, and prevention.

Danielle Dickchinski helps survivors of incest process, integrate, and release the effects of CPTSD with Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture.

Darlene Lekowski is a sibling sexual trauma and abuse (SSTA) survivor. A speaker, author and advocate who transformed her decades of pain into hope and healing—for herself and others. After fifty years of silence about the sibling sexual trauma and abuse she endured as a child, she found the courage to speak her truth – winning the civil lawsuit brought against her by her own brother. Darlene speaks publicly to make incest/SSTA a common word so victims know they are not alone and there is a path to healing.

TedX speaker and survivor

Diane Tarantini speaks and writes on the topic of child safety. She is a survivor of child sexual abuse, a body safety educator in the state of West Virginia, and an author, blogger, and journalist.

Coming soon!

Donna Jenson, survivor and artist, and her team invite survivors to share their stories through writing workshops, plays, and one-on-one calls.

Dr. Vanessa Dunn Guyton is an award-winning Survivor Advocate, International Executive Trainer, Podcaster, Author, and Mother. As a Survivor of Military Sexual Trauma, she founded HUSH No More in 2019 to provide Survivors a safe place to share their stories, heal, and release shame while raising awareness of the HUSH Topics worldwide.
She is the creator of the HUSH No More with Dr. Vanessa Podcast and the producer of the HUSH No More Documentary, companion book, trauma-releasing coloring book, poetry collection, and When a Date Turns to Rape, with international screenings across multiple countries. Through her training programs, she has certified over 4,000 Victim Advocates globally.
Dr. Vanessa also serves as CEO of Consulting Experts & Associates, where she trains organizations worldwide on military sexual trauma (MST), sexual assault prevention, domestic violence, suicide prevention, sex trafficking, and Victim Advocate development.
Her guiding belief: Awareness + Knowledge = Preven

Dr. Levine provides professional development workshops and other consulting services. His areas of expertise include sexual violence, domestic violence, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Gloria Masters, is the founder of the Handing the Shame Back foundation, a charity dedicated to adult survivors of child sexual abuse. She is the host of the YouTube and podcast channel of the same name, presenting interviews and resources designed exclusively for survivors.

Through thought-provoking documentaries and storytelling, Heidi explores the deep-seated shame, resilience, and transformation that comes from surviving violence. Her commitment is profoundly personal, not only in her advocacy but also in her own journey as a survivor of childhood sexual and physical abuse. By sharing these narratives, Heidi provides a powerful voice for survivors, fostering empathy, healing, and a call for change.

HuNia V. Bradley is the dedicated Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Advocacy Network (SAAN), a forthcoming nonprofit organization committed to empowering survivors and ending abuse. With a profound belief in the principles of restorative justice, HuNia advocates for healing and reconciliation within communities affected by sexual violence.

Jane Epstein, sibling sexual abuse survivor and TedX Speaker, improves Sibling sexual abuse and trauma awareness through public speaking and advocacy work.

Coming soon!

Josephine A. Lauren, MTS (she/they) is an internationally recognized, queer, disabled author and activist. They have been featured in outlets like The New York Times, Ms. Magazine, Yes!, America, Spirituality & Health, and Elite Daily. Jo. also consulted on a children’s book published by Scholastic, Extra-Ordinary: Celebrating Neuro and Physical Diversity. As the co-founder of Incest AWARE, Jo. serves an alliance of individuals and organizations seeking to improve methods of incest prevention, intervention, recovery, and justice. Say hello to Jo. and read their memoir, The Home I Know: A Liberation Story, on their website.

Survivor of incest and family sharing/trafficking from toddler to teen. Repressed memories surfaced in midfifties. Working with survivor groups 30 yrs, 16 as nonprofit founder. Advocates for healing through creative activities and peer interaction. Workshop facilitator and conference speaker.

Julian Ward is a restorative justice practitioner and facilitator with a decade of experience supporting communities, organizations, and individuals in responding to harm through relational, non-punitive approaches rooted in accountability, dignity, and repair. His background includes a Master’s degree in Restorative Justice from Eastern Mennonite University; extensive work facilitating Victim–Offender Dialogues in California prisons; and years facilitating long-term restorative justice groups inside correctional settings, alongside community-based dialogues and trainings focused on sexual harm and interpersonal violence. His work centers deep listening and the cultivation of conditions where meaningful accountability and healing can take root.

Keith Addison Tyler is a survivor of childhood sadistic sexual abuse. He is an advocate for all survivors of sex crimes, especially men, and encourages them to seek counseling and community support.

Incest survivor, Kelly Wallace, started Recognize Our Power as a way to help other survivors come out of the shadows, own their stories, and find purpose in their lives. Through candid conversations with other survivors, we explore topics such as healing, self-care, and building resilience.

Kesa Kivel is a donor, educator, incest survivor, and anti-racist/anti-incest activist writing the book: Transforming the Way We Think About Incest: How Incest Intersects with Sexism and Anti-Black Racism.

Lauren McFerrin knows what it means to survive.
A survivor of severe childhood sexual trauma and the loss of a son, Lauren came to trauma education through lived experience she couldn't ignore. Good Girl Trauma exists because the science — van der Kolk, Levine, Schwartz — is out there, but it's not always easy to reach. Lauren translates it. She makes it accessible. This isn't about being fixed. It's about being free.

Leigh oversees The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability which creates resources, provides technical assistance, provides a nationwide information and referral service and generally advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are victims, suspects, defendants, imprisoned within the system. We have a strong focus on supporting victims with IDD who experience sexual violence and prevention.

Lexie (they/he) is an Ohio-born author and filmmaker whose work explores bodies, home, cyclical violence, and trans identity. They've worked directly with fellow CSA survivors in some capacity for 15+ years. They're a Lambda Literary Finalist, Jerome Foundation Alum, Tin House Alum. They've authored, edited, and contributed to several books and articles related to CSA - including the acclaimed middle-grade novel THE SHIP WE BUILT - which centers a trans CSA survivor. WHAT WILL I BECOME? is their co-directed debut feature film, which also speaks briefly to experiences on incest, and went on to win several Berlinale awards and will be on public media next year.

Lindsay Hawthorne is a child sexual abuse prevention advocate, 2025 Public Voices Fellow on the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse with The Op-Ed Project, and Communicatons Coordinator at ENOUGH ABUSE.

Survivor individual and group spiritual coaching with Dr. Lori Pitts, M.S. degree in Professional Clinical Counseling and a Dr. in Metaphysics.

Simply sharing my healingfromchronicpain.com website will help me spread awareness to help educate Incest AWARE’s audience and the general public on how chronic pain can be an aftereffect of emotional trauma.

Mary Knight is psychotherapist for WA state residents and a private practice coach for those out of state. As an incest survivor, she has produced a number of films and published a memoir.

​

Nancy has 40+ years of experience within the insurance industry across a wide variety of actuarial, data, compliance, and operational disciplines. She is currently a Chief Compliance Office for a Property and Casualty insurance company. As a survivor of incest and other forms of harm, Nancy firmly believes in giving back to the community and helping others help themselves. She’s been an advocate for abused children and intellectually challenged adults, has fostered and adopted children, and served on the board of two non-profits.

Nicole Ricken is a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist in Paris, France. As an incest survivor and mental health professional, she has worked closely with child survivors of incest.

Nubia DuVall Wilson is a nationally-recognized published author, anti-incest activist and speaker who is using her voice to break the cycle of generational trauma and unsilence survivors of sexual abuse, especially sibling sexual abuse (SSA). Nubia co-founded Starfury Productions with two partners, which develops, packages, pitches and distributes TV and film projects by underrepresented creators. Through her Unsilenced substack, she works to break the silence surrounding the high prevalence of child sexual abuse in the united states—especially among women of color—and the long-term effects of abuse into adulthood.

Rachel works with survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are sick and tired of feeling broken and unfixable. By way of my Beyond Surviving program, I help them break free from the pain and move on with their lives.

Rashan Legard is an International Motivational Trainer, Veteran, and Poet committed to inspiring transformative change. As a survivor of sexual assault, he leverages his experiences to empower others and promote safer, more equitable spaces through his organization.

Risa Shaw, PhD, (she/her) is an outspoken activist, artist, & author. She is committed to amplifying survivors’ stories through her groundbreaking anthology, Not Child’s Play and her research, conducted by a survivor with survivors on disclosing to family members. Risa's vision is a world where survivors are heard, believed, and supported — where silence no longer dominates, and where speaking truth is honored as courageous, not denigrated as shame. Risa believes we need to tell our stories to imagine into being ways of transforming this world.

Breaking the stigma and shame of incest and childhood sexual abuse by offering resources and a place of refuge for anyone supporting an adult survivor with survivor parent, Rona Brodrick.

Sarah runs Psychodrama weekly group and 12 hour-day intensives for incest survivors.

Scott Dille is the founder and executive director of Braver Collective. As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Scott knows first-hand the many challenges survivors face as they navigate the path to heal.

Since 2018, he has worked with a broad community of survivors, designers, activists, writers and healing partners to build a safe, welcoming and accessible online community where survivors will find connection, belonging, and healing.

Shirkydra Roberts is an active Navy Officer, incest survivor, motivational speaker, author, and workshop leader. She offers inspirational guidance for survivors.

Susan is a lived‑experience advocate, facilitator and community educator whose work focuses on improving recognition and response to sibling sexual trauma and abuse. A certified facilitator with The Centre for The Empowerment Dynamic, she supports survivors, families and teams to engage in empowered communication many were never taught. Through global Conversation Cafés and collaborative projects, her work emphasises dignity, clarity and lifelong recovery.

Susan Osborn is a critically acclaimed author of multiple books, essays, and articles. Her latest work, Incest & Power: A Manifesto (currently on submission), examines the ordinary institutional arrangements that keep us from seeing the prevalence of incest.

Swamini B. is a poet, author, and survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Her work explores healing, resilience, and reclaiming identity beyond trauma.

Through her writing and speaking, she offers a survivor's perspective on the process of recovery—learning to understand what has shaped us, reclaim our sense of self, and build a life that is no longer organized around what happened to us.

She is the author of I’m Not My Story: A Poetic Journey of Healing and founder of Resilience Poetry.

Zida Grant writes a Substack and monitors a FB page devoted to dissociative amnesia and the failures of the institutions of psychology to teach the truth and to practice truly trauma-informed therapy.