Because I really wanted to know what it was that I had repressed as a child, I decided to have EMDR therapy.

Imagine not being able to remember your childhood. Any of it. Because of trauma. Because of repressed memories. This is Dawn's story.

What do you know about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing or EMDR? Tim Fielder will be sharing his story for the first time.

“I still remember the four babies I lost AND I cherish the fact that I have two beautiful, healthy, happy children."

Finally talking publicly about a topic that always felt like a forbidden conversation: my own mental health experience.

Melissa will share, for the first time, how her struggle with clinical depression led her to seek in-patient treatment and therapy.

A life of advocacy built on difficulty in elementary school, an alcoholic father and a violent rape.

How adverse childhood experiences and a passionate interest in people’s stories led to a lifetime of advocacy.

Each of us have had traumatic episodes in our past that helped inspire and shape our commitment to advocacy.

People who have experienced trauma will recognize the role these steps play in healing. Others will see fundamental truths that help anyone.

Healing from trauma can be a long process. For me my healing journey is never ending. I work daily to find the joy in everything.

We’ll talk about healing from trauma on both a personal and a collective level.

We are creating a space for people to share their reactions to the election. It was something concrete I could do. I’m hoping it might help.

My heart was heavy and my head was sad. I thought about how to get around this, to get out of this, to make this go away.

If you experienced strong emotions this week because of the election results (e.g. despair, anxiety) we encourage you to join us.

Talking about and acknowledging that suicidal ideation and suicide attempts might actually help people who are facing severe depression.

There have been two times in my life when I experienced passive suicidal ideation. Those thoughts were fleeting, but frightening.

I almost ruined everything in 2015 when severe depression hit and I attempted suicide. Rosie was only 11 years old.

This might be the most challenging episode of “Shining Light on Shadows” that we have hosted so far. Join us for a VERY candid conversation.

In 2022 United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County started a teen wellness initiative called Empowering Minds.