Black silhouette of a child against a sunset reaching for a limb of a plant with a piece of fruit. on the top left of the image is red text outlined in white reading "COCSA Within Families"

July 9, 2026 Advocate

COCSA Within Families

Child-on-child sexual abuse within families must be understood, and we will do our best

image of a black man with dreads with his head in his hands wearing a brown long sleeve shirt leaning forward on his knees. In front of him are of him is hands holding a clipboard with white paper with text on it. On the center of the image is green-blue text reading "psychosomatic symptoms of trauma"

April 20, 2026 Advocate

Somatic Presentations of Trauma

Trauma has many direct effects of the mind and the body. There are effects on the structures of the brain, hormones, and neurotransmitters especially in those with chronic and/or childhood trauma, that can be seen and measured. Including the work done in the ACE studies. However, many symptoms often get dismissed as being “all in your head”, and we will talk about some of those symptoms here.

An image of an all-black silhouette of an androgynous person sitting on a cliff edge in front of a grey to orange ombré sunset. Centred on the image is blue text that reads "What is domestic Violence." In smaller black text underneath that is “pt 1”

February 28, 2026July 24, 2026 Advocate

What is Domestic Violence? (1)

Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.(US Department of Justice)

May 5, 2024April 6, 2025 Advocate

Informational Article: Five Trauma Responses

The trauma responses are neurophysiological; they are not bad or good. They happen without us choosing what to do. These responses help us survive. Healthy activation of these stress response systems is predictable, moderate and controllable. (Gobbel, 2023). When it's not it dysregulates us and can cause trauma

February 1, 2024March 10, 2026 Advocate

Symptom Explainer: Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are episodes of severe overwhelming fear. Symptoms develop fast and reach their peak within 10 minutes. They rarely last more than an hour, typically lasting for 20 to 30 minutes.

A white background with a tan book open to the middle. There is illegible text on the pages. Across the page centered in middle is one line of text readings "Ideas to Begin Trauma Healing". The font is handwriting and the text is in a light to dark blue gradient.

August 24, 2023August 3, 2026 Advocate

Ideas To Begin Trauma Healing

It's really common to feel very confused and unsure about where we can start in our healing journey. Intense emotions of any kind make it hard to even know what we can or should do to begin. Everyone's healing journey and what's right for them is going to be hard. But some of what is … Continue reading Ideas To Begin Trauma Healing

July 21, 2023August 3, 2026 Advocate

Coping Skills: Emotional Flashbacks

An emotional flashback is when we are triggered into living in the emotional/psychological state we experienced during our traumatic childhood experiences.

March 3, 2023 Advocate

Informational Article: Child Sexual Abusers

Child abusers exist across races and gender. Understanding what is behind sexual abuse can help us more effectively prevent sexual violence. As well as just give victims power and understand what their abuser was doing.

January 21, 2022January 21, 2022 Advocate

Symptom Explainer: Intrusive Thoughts

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted, cognitively and emotionally disruptive thoughts. These thoughts are characteristic of anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive class disorders. They are also found in mood, eating, trauma & addiction disorders. Intrusive thoughts are usually thoughts about actions, scenarios or fears the person finds upsetting and often taboo in their culture. Common topics include inappropriate … Continue reading Symptom Explainer: Intrusive Thoughts