Out of the Basement: Beyond Surviving Sexual Assault

Sexual assault--any sexual assault--is a violation of the mind, body, and spirit. It leaves behind a residue of shame and self-blame as well as the sense that we are never safe. Many of us retreat to a basement--a protective but limiting world where we try to escape the memories, the feelings, the emotions.

Out of the Basement is an invitation for survivors to step into the light and follow the healing path of BE, DO, SHARE. At the heart of this journey is a five-step process of personal reflection and contemplation. These steps are based upon the healing sojourn of author Deborah K. Halvorson and of the countless survivors she has connected with personally and professionally.

From here, our journey leads us to helpful guidelines to create safe and supportive healing communities. And at last, our journey culminates with a collection of deeply personal and uplifting stories from survivors who have gone ahead on this path.

Profound yet practical, straightforward yet eloquent, Out of the Basement is an invitation to access our inherent courage, resilience, and strength. To learn how to live beyond surviving. To step into healing, hope, and empowerment. To rediscover who we truly are and reclaim what was taken from us.