Our Story | Mysite

Our Prayer & Blessing for you

May you come to know, deep in your soul, that you are fully seen, known, and loved by God. May His healing light touch the hidden places of your heart and replace shame with freedom, fear with courage, and lies with truth. May His Spirit surround you with grace-filled people who remind you of your worth in Christ, and may you walk each day more deeply rooted in your true identity in Christ. As you go, may the peace of God guard your heart and mind, and may His love restore every broken place. Amen.

OUR STORY

Healing Together-Living Free

From Hidden Wounds to Wholeness

We all carry hidden parts of our stories—places marked by shame, pain, guilt, and fear. Often, these wounds shape how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and even how we believe God sees us. For many years, I tried to cover those broken places. But in His love and compassion, God invited me on a journey of healing and freedom.

What I’ve come to understand—and what I want to share with you—is the impact of abuse and how we often learn to survive in ways that feel safe but leave us stuck. My story is not just about pain; it’s a reflection of God’s faithfulness and His power to restore even the most broken parts of our hearts, souls, and lives.

It is my deepest desire that during our time together, you come to know just how deeply loved, known, valued, and seen you are—by God and by others.

Shedding Light on the Hidden Places

I'm passionate about bringing light to the areas of our lives that need God’s healing touch. As Scripture reminds us, “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Even when that truth is painful. So often, our behaviors—things like isolation, people-pleasing, addiction, control, or dissociation—are not the real problem. They are responses to trauma, survival mechanisms developed in a world that felt unsafe. Understanding this was key to my healing.

Trauma Is Not Your Identity

To recover from trauma, we must reconnect—with ourselves, our bodies, our emotions, others, and with God. Trauma responses are normal reactions to abnormal experiences. And how you approach healing matters. Every story is unique. Your recovery will be, too. God created our bodies and brains with the capacity to heal. Part of that healing is allowing trauma responses to complete and release from our nervous systems. I’ve experienced firsthand what it’s like to move from survival to wholeness—and I want you to know: it is possible.

The Pain I Carried

For many years, I lived in shame and fear because of the sexual abuse I experienced. I remained in physically and emotionally abusive relationships, endured sexual assaults, and learned early on to bury my pain and blame myself. Intimacy felt unsafe. Love felt conditional. Trust was shattered. I internalized blame for the destructive behavior of others. Hiding became a way of life. Escaping that abuse was incredibly difficult—and disorienting. God meets you where you are.

God Met Me in the Ruins

As I began seeking help, God invited me to bring every part of myself to Him. This process was hard. I felt invisible. But slowly, God began to reveal how trauma had affected me mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He gently exposed the condemnation I had lived under for so long. This wasn’t just emotional healing—it was spiritual warfare. (John 10:10) For years, I had been told not to look back. But looking back was exactly what I needed. I had minimized my trauma and covered it with performance—even ministry—while feeling unlovable, ashamed, and afraid.

Layers of Healing

As God led me to safe, gracious people, I began to experience healthy intimacy. Through the Holy Spirit, He uncovered the layers: shame, fear, false guilt, depression, anxiety. He replaced them with His truth, His love, and His acceptance. The transformation was life-changing. Physical touch, once terrifying, became redeemable. God reached into the places that had been violated and restored what was broken. Psalm 139 became personal—I knew I was seen, known, and loved.

Restoration in Every Layer

God was healing not just my heart—but also my nervous system. I could breathe again. I felt safe. I could trust my body, my emotions, and even my discernment. I began to see growth—not just in me, but in my relationships. I trusted God as my security. I no longer needed to control outcomes. I could express needs, grieve well, and process pain in healthy ways. This is what redemption looks like. This is God’s way of restoring.

For You, Too

I pray you come to see yourself the way God sees you—because that is the foundation of true freedom.

The healing I’ve experienced through restorative ministry, trauma recovery, and grace-filled community has transformed my life. And I believe God can do the same for you. No matter what you’ve faced—you are not alone. God is with you. He is for you. He will never leave or abandon you. (Psalm 27:10, Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6) Your story isn’t over.

EDUCATION

Associates Degree in Science- Citrus College 1999
Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Emphasis in Public Relations- Cal Poly Pomona 2002
Executive Coaching Certification/Certified Life Coach- Townsend Institute, Concordia University 2023

*The International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching does not conform to the ICF's model of coaching. As trauma professionals, our work is rooted in helping survivors rebuild and create a life they love living as an overcomer. If I were to conform strictly to the ICF’s methods and competencies, it would significantly limit my capacity to serve trauma survivors effectively. Doing so would strip away the most impactful and beneficial components of my coaching. For this reason, I have chosen not to pursue ICF accreditation.

QUALIFICATIONS

Certified Facilitator in Women Skills, Renewing your Mind, Identity, Premarital & Marriage Skills
Facilitator in Healing the Wounded Heart for Sexual Abuse Restoration- The Allender Center
Story Sage-The Allender Center
Facilitator in Healing & Restoration- Sexual Integrity
Facilitator in Healing & Restoration- Forgiven & Set Free
The Mend Training for Domestic Violence Victims/Intimate Partner Betrayal
Gap Community Experience- Rebuilding Trust Workshop/Understanding Victim Mentality
Light University Training Certifications: Adult Spiritual & Mental Health First Aid, Child Abuse, Attachment Trauma, PTSD, Sexual Trauma & Violence, Domestic Violence, Trauma Informed Care
Trained in Restoration Coaching- Restoration Therapy
Certification TPRAT- (In Process) Townsend Personal Growth Relationship Assessment

Emily Stephenson

Passionate About Helping Others Grow

I was introduced to the skills class by my wife, Emily. She was attending these classes to heal from her past, and she encouraged me to join her. Initially, I responded like many of the other men in the first class I attended, thinking, "I really don't have any problems from the past, so I don’t need this." However, after participating, I was surprised by the insights I gained and admitted to Emily, "I was wrong."

For years, I believed that maintaining my physical health through exercise and my spiritual health through church and Bible reading was enough. I never considered my emotional health until now. I fully committed myself to this journey and learned so much about how God designed our hearts to be in harmony with our minds; mine felt disconnected. Vulnerability was uncomfortable for me, as it was not something my family practiced, nor was it something I embraced in my first marriage.

Through the workshops, I explored generational patterns from my family of origin, which helped me understand why I sometimes mirrored my parents' behaviors. I discovered that without open and honest conversations, sharing struggles, and being willing to confront difficult issues, our relationships would remain shallow. A lack of depth leads to unhealthy patterns of hiding emotions. Everyone desires a deep emotional connection, and if that’s lacking with your spouse, it creates a weak bond. I had to confront this truth, even though it was embarrassing. I realized that my denial was affecting my relationships with myself, my spouse, and even God. Emotional distrust in a marriage can easily be exploited if someone outside begins to forge an emotional bond with your spouse.

That was my experience. After my divorce and entering a new marriage without addressing the root issues, Emily and I found ourselves facing similar problems. Until we started these skills classes, we were both emotionally disconnected and unaware of the underlying issues.

Here are some key lessons I’ve learned:

How to remain curious during conflicts.
To respond with understanding instead of sarcasm, recognizing that I might have something to learn.
How to show empathy when someone is hurting.
That God loves me, even when others speak harshly (I’m still working on embracing this).
The importance of listening before responding (instead of interrupting first).

This journey has made me a better person, a more loving husband, and a kinder Christian. I’m grateful that I now share a deep emotional bond with Emily. We value honest vulnerability, which allows me to trust her with my struggles and insecurities, not just my strengths.

Jeff Stephenson

QUALIFICATIONS

Certified Facilitator in Men Skills, Renewing your Mind, Identity, Premarital, & Marriage Skills
Gap Community Experience- Rebuilding Trust Workshop/Understanding Victim Mentality
Ultimate Leadership - GrowthSkills.org- Townsend Institute
Trained in Restoration Coaching- Restoration Therapy