Your Trauma Is Not Your Identity: Finding Hope After Sexual Assault

Healing after sexual assault and rape is not a single breakthrough moment, it is a long recovery journey that reshapes identity, relationships, and even the way you live in your own body. On the Overcomer’s Approach podcast, Nichol Ellis-McGregor talks with author and advocate Amy McKiernan about moving from victim to survivor to overcomer, and why language matters when you are rebuilding your life after trauma. Amy shares how a steady support system, especially her parents, helped her challenge the “new normal” of shutdown, low self-worth, and accepting poor treatment. The episode reinforces a core truth for trauma healing: everyone deserves a village, even if your village looks different than someone else’s.

A major turning point in Amy’s story is deciding to let people in and to give her experience a voice. That choice eventually leads to writing her book, a practical resource for survivors and the people who love them. She explains that the writing process is not quick or tidy. A first attempt may stay on the surface, but revisiting the story can reveal where you are still stuck, what triggers still control the narrative, and what beliefs about yourself were formed in the aftermath. Amy also highlights the mental health impact of COVID as a catalyst that pushed her to write more seriously, turning personal pain into purpose through advocacy, podcast conversations, and public speaking.

One of the most useful parts of the conversation is Amy’s “eight keys” framework for healing from trauma, paired with reflective journaling exercises. The keys are intentionally simple and attainable, but not easy, because real change takes commitment and repetition. She emphasizes there is no fixed order, because each survivor’s healing journey is different, and progress is not linear. Two standout tools are “understanding the impact” and “putting things where they belong.” Amy uses the memorable “trauma sweater” metaphor: when trauma becomes familiar, you may wear it every day as if it is part of you. Healing can mean taking it off, storing it gently, and choosing when to engage with it, creating a healthier relationship with your story rather than letting it define you.

The episode also speaks directly to shame and silence, and to the moment when doing the work gets uncomfortable. Amy’s guidance centers on small, sustainable choices: call one safe person, schedule a therapy appointment, join a support group, write it down, set one boundary, or choose one caring action for yourself. Those small wins build momentum and restore agency, especially when power was taken from you. She adds a second metaphor, internal gardening: if you only snip the top of a weed, it grows back and can choke out everything beautiful. Trauma recovery often requires gentle, patient root work, supported by community and professional help. For listeners seeking resources, Amy points to her website, her book, and her advocacy work with Campus Outreach Services and Take Back the Night, reminding survivors that healing and hope are real, reachable, and worth choosing again tomorrow.

More on Amy at https://amymckiernan.com/

Thank you for listening!

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good day, everyone. This is Nicole Ellis McGregor, the founder of the Overcomer's Approach podcast, where I meet with different people from different walks of life, different experiences, different journeys. But the overarching theme is that we all have the ability to overcome anything that we're almost faced with in life. And so I love the fact that I have Amy McKearman McKiernan here today with us on the Overcomer's Approach. If I pronounced your name incorrectly, please forgive me in advance. Thank you. Um, you are an author, an advocate, a survivor whose mission is helping others move beyond surviving trauma to living a life of healing and hope and freedom. After experiencing sexual assault and rape, Amy spent years navigating the difficult road towards recovery. It is, it took her a decade to write her deeply personal book, A Courageous and Vulnerable Account of Her Journey, that not only shares her story but offers practical tools for healing through what she calls the eight keys, along with reflective journaling exercises, insights from members of her support system. Amy has created a resource for both survivors and the people who love them and support them. I understand that this conversation may have a difficult topic, but the way that we move forward to real freedom and moving in the way and to show up authentically as who we are is to share our stories and our experiences. Amy, thank you for being here today on the Overcomers Approach podcast. I thank you, and I know my listeners thank you as well.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Thank you so much, Nicole and listeners. I'm I'm very, very happy to be here.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Thank you, thank you. Well, to get started, Amy, thank you for being here. And can you share a part of your story that led you to from surviving from your trauma to become an advocate towards healing? Like you can start anywhere you want to go, wherever you want to, whatever you're comfortable with. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 1:50

Sure, sure. So I mean anyone who's experienced trauma, especially trauma with uh sexual assault, including rape, like like me,

From Victim To Overcomer Identity

SPEAKER_01 2:00

um, you know that it can be a very long and you know, harrowing path, you know, and and a path that that that often doesn't seem like you're going to get out of it. You know, I think that a lot of us going through such things kind of get used to like a new norm, a new norm of being shut down or a new norm of of accepting um you know victimhood and accepting poor treatment in life and and thinking that that's all that we're worth. Um, and so the transition from being uh a victim to survivor to overcomer, that's that's what I'm all about, is is you know, um that kind of journey. And and what brought me to being the advocate that I am today is, you know, I think that I want to start off by saying that I had I leaned on a support system that I was very blessed to have. I didn't always lean on them, but when I finally decided to to let them in and let them support me, that was a game changer for me. And I want to preface that by saying that I do think everyone is worthy of a support system. Um, and your support system might look different than mine did, and that's okay. I think that there is a support system out there for everyone, there is a village out there for everyone. You just have to find what yours looks like. Um, and so part of my support system was my dad. Um, both my parents, 100%. And my dad would always tell me, You are not a victim, you are not a survivor, you are an overcomer. Yes, and you know, he would say that, and I would be like, whatever, dad, right? Like just but you know, and and to be clear what he meant, right? Like I was a victim, I was a victim of of rape, uh, several rapes and assaults. Um, and I did survive those things.

SPEAKER_00 4:00

Yes, you did, yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

But he wanted me to identify as the overcoming piece. He wanted me to not stay stuck living in that world of just surviving. Surviving is so powerful, but it can leave us pretty, pretty beaten down. You know, it doesn't mean that we're thriving when we're surviving things. And so, you know, that kind of planted this seed in my brain. And um, I always like came back to that that saying and that phrase as I was healing and and working on myself and going into therapy and reflecting and digging really deep and doing the work because it is work, you know, it's it's the work of discovering these new things that are impacting your life that are tied to your trauma that you didn't even realize were are like now controlling the narrative for you, and it's it's identifying them and then choosing to work on them. And so it's a lot of work and it takes a lot of time. And you know, he he brought me to see a speaker once uh when I was 15. He brought me to see this woman, Katie, speak at a school, and she was speaking about her experiences. And I remember watching her and being like, that's amazing. I wish I could be that one day. I wish I could stand up there with strength and and hope and touch somebody's life one day.

SPEAKER_03 5:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 5:32

I didn't think I would be able to, but um, then I, you know, years and years passed and I decided to write this book. And this book has been life-changing. It's been like another healing experience for me that I didn't even know I needed. Um, and then I started going on podcasts and just letting my voice be heard and like saying it out loud. It's so powerful. And um, I went on this podcast, actually, the second podcast I ever did, and come to find out it was the woman Katie, who I heard speak all those years ago, and I didn't realize it. Oh, that's her. Yeah, it was her podcast. And I was like, oh my, like it was just this like full circle moment.

SPEAKER_03 6:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Um, and then she took me aboard. Uh, she's actually her name is Katie Kestner. She's a huge advocate and a huge face to advocacy for this. And she has several organizations uh called Campus Outreach Services and Take Back the Night. And she hired me to be a presenter for her. And and now I'm I'm going off and I'm doing educational presentations and keynote speaking opportunities to schools and organizations, yeah, just like I saw all those years ago.

SPEAKER_03 6:46

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 6:47

And so that's a very uh quick summary of kind of how the journey has evolved for me and how I am now where I am with advocacy and um, you know, education.

SPEAKER_00 7:00

Ah, I love it. You know, I there's there's there's so many key things you brought up. You said that everybody deserves support, a support system, and we are worthy of a support system. Yes. And I love the fact that you said yours may look different than maybe mine's or somebody else's, but the key is that is that we have a support system, it's very individualized.

SPEAKER_03 7:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:18

Yeah, I think it's so powerful that it was your father. You know, I think that is just such a key relationship that um, you know, that he leaned into that and and and guided his daughter. That is a very powerful relationship. And then the fact like he was like, you he doesn't just want you to survive, but he wants you to overcome because in overcoming is where you really flourish and you your pain is really put into purpose, you know, and you don't that's not your identity. The the victim is not, it's not who you are, and so I think that is extremely powerful, and you know, coming full circle and actually be on the podcast of the presenter that you actually seen and he was like, I want to do that one day, and you know, you really walked into it and really manifest that. And I think that is extremely powerful for other people who had similar or same experiences because I think as as as you as you stated, you know, that's where you, you know, you had experienced that, but that that's not your title, you know, you don't own it. And so I love the fact that uh wow, that's an amazing. And then you decided to write a book, you know, about it, which is really good. And I know in your book, it's it's not only I feel like to tell your story, but it's to help others as well. Yes, yes. Um, how did how did you lean into and then how long did it take you to write the book? Was it a while? Did you just wake up one day, or was it like a process? What did that look like and feel like?

SPEAKER_01 8:44

Yeah, yeah,

Writing The Book And Finding Depth

SPEAKER_01 8:45

uh, it was a process. Um, so you know, way back in in 2014, my dad uh he used to have a radio, a radio program. This was before podcasting. So it was a radio program. I remember radio. Yeah, yes. It was a live radio program. Right. And he asked me to come on an episode um and titled What Do You Do When Life Gets Broken? And so we did a live episode together about one of my experiences and how we navigated that as a family. Um, and there was a woman listening from the Philippines, and she called in and she was just so moved and gracious and and thanks me for my courage. And she shared a little bit about her story, and it was so impactful to to feel like I I touched this woman's life somehow.

SPEAKER_03 9:38

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

And that was the first time I really like put my voice out there. And that was back in 2014. And I was like, that's when I was like, I'm gonna do this, I'm going to write a book. And that's all I had in my brain was I'm gonna write a book. Right. Um, and so it still took like probably five years for me to like really seriously start the process. Um, like I would jot things down here and there, but then once COVID kind of hit, that's when I was like really, I mean, the mental health piece of COVID was really apparent to me.

SPEAKER_03 10:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

And I was like, this is like people need help, they need help, they need hope, they need healing on the inside too. And so that's when I really started diving in and started writing. Um, and at first it was just to share my story, it was just like getting it out on paper. Um, and it was interesting because like I'd be writing it and I'd be like, okay, I'm done. And then I would like read it and be like, oh wow. Yeah, I didn't even touch the surface of some of these things. And and that's what the healing was for me. I like healed in a deeper way and I like learned so much about myself, yeah. Um, and identified areas that I was still stuck and struggling in that I didn't even realize. And and so then it just kind of transformed into these eight keys that I was was able to name while writing it, these eight keys to to really actually taking back your life.

SPEAKER_03 11:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Um, and I wanted it to be something for the reader. I didn't just want it to be my story to share. I wanted the reader to be able to connect to themselves in a really deep way. And so I included the this reflective journal piece that you are reading through and you're pausing, you're reflecting, and then you're like able to kind of write down some things that are coming up for you, or you know, think about where you are with this one thing that I'm talking about. Um, and then I also include the uh pieces of my dad and my sister, who were support people for me, um, giving their perspectives because I think what also gets lost is the journey of the support person.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

I agree.

SPEAKER_01 11:50

Yes, their own trauma, their own perspective, things that I couldn't even see in the in the moment, you know. Um, and so I wanted those voices to be heard too, yeah, you know, so that it gives everyone kind of something, you know, and uh people who feel lost, they just have some kind of light in this. And so it just kind of transformed into this uh like interactive, um, you know, rounded book of of these keys and reflecting and other perspectives. And you know, I think it's really, really special. And I just I my goal is for people to read it, anyone to read it. It is literally for anyone, it is not a 300-page dissertation, it is an easy read, a hard read, but easy read, right? Yes, um, but it's for anyone. It is anyone can pick up this book and does anyone can access them. I promise you that it is really sustainable and reachable for anyone, no matter who you are. And that that's what I want out of this is for anyone to pick it up and find something.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

Yeah, you know, I love your perspective on that. I think so many times when authors write, sometimes it is to tell your story, just like you said. And as you were writing it, you know, you found out that you were still there were still some areas that either kind of stuck in or not really ready to share that yet, or whatever you're I I can understand that as well. Like I, you know, um, writing too, like I want to share some stuff, but I was on the surface, you know, I didn't want to dig deeper, uh, just for my own discomfort. But I realized the deeper you go or the more you're willing to share, the more people can be impacted by your journey and to walk it out and to really fully effectively help people. Um yeah, and I like that. I also like you said your dad and your sister, given their perspective, because I think for other people to see it as well, and the reflective writing piece is like so critical. I think there's really power in writing. Um, yeah, and when you put it down on paper, you know, and kind of get it out of your head too. Yes, that is that is

The Eight Keys And Trauma Metaphors

SPEAKER_00 13:55

really, really good. Tell me more about the eight keys of healing. You don't have to go through all of them, but just kind of like the format or like the overview, like you know, you want we want people to read the book, just kind of like a light overview of what that looked like or how did you use that approach? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:10

So, you know, they're they're again they're they're simple, you know. Um, sometimes like even just reading it, it's like, oh, really? That's what you're writing about. But then when you start reading, you're like, oh wow, like it's harder than you think, but it's it's easier than you think, if that makes sense, right?

SPEAKER_03 14:26

It makes complete sense, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:27

It still takes the work and the commitment, but it's it's attainable for anyone. Um, and you know, it's things like, and I won't share all of them, but like understanding the impact is one of them, yeah, right. It's like you you do need to sit down and pause and really look at where in your life the the impact is in in your body, in your life, in your mind, you know, because that's without knowing that you you stay stuck. That's right. And so it's it's things like that. It's things like um putting things where they belong. That's one of my I really love this one because I'm also a very uh like visual writer. So I paint a lot of pictures of for you to like visualize what I mean. And in this, in in put things where they belong, I I paint this picture of like envisioning envisioning your mind is like a closet.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:23

And your your story, your trauma, it's like this sweater that you are putting on every day. You're either putting it on every day or you're not ever taking it off. Yes, it becomes kind of this like comfort item.

SPEAKER_03 15:39

I agree.

SPEAKER_01 15:40

Because it's it's you don't that's your normal. That's who you are now, is all that pain, it's like woven into the fabric, right? It's just part of you, it's how you identify and you feel weird without it, and so you wear it every day. Yes, and it's about envisioning yourself finally taking that sweater off and putting it where it belongs. Yeah, and it's like about having healthy relationships with our trauma. Yeah, it doesn't mean it goes away, it doesn't mean destroy it or crumple it in a ball and throw it in the corner and shut the door and try to forget it. It'll always be there. Yeah, but you can care for it and you can put it away gently and beautifully in a place in your closet, and that's where it belongs. And then when you want to talk about it and think about it and feel about it, you take it down and you look at it and you be with it, but then you put it away again. Yeah, so it's like painting this, these pictures of like how to organize these things in your mind and kind of approach things with a new lens. Um, and so you know, they they kind of these keys just like I was able to name them. So when I first wrote it, they were all just kind of jumbled up in there. And then I was like, let me organize this a little bit, yeah. And I was like, Oh, these are keys, like I can name these, I can name these and talk about them. And there's eight of them. And what's what's great about them is there is no order, right? Like, I think everyone approaches these situations their own way, everyone is in their own place with this, and so you can literally, no matter where you are in your healing journey, go through it and you might be like, Oh, I've already got this one down, right, you know, or like you might be really stuck with one and just need to like table that for a minute, right? Okay, too, you know, and so um there's no order, you can revisit them. I think it's actually really important and pretty cool to like use the journal and then like read it again, you know, six months, one year later, and see where you are again, because healing just it never stops, it just keeps going. And so you get to just watch your transformation when you do something like that.

SPEAKER_00 18:03

That's good, you know. And I and I truly believe healing is a journey, just like you said, it it never in terms of the impact or or whatever you experienced or being a survivor of some some issue, whether that's rape or domestic violence or whatever that may be, um, it never fully goes away. And I love the fact that you said, and I and I think people need to hear that because I think within even just saying it, it gives you like the okay. Because sometimes I think people be like, I'm healed, I'm strong, and forgiveness, and I'm on to the next, and it's still there, you know, like it's it didn't go anywhere. Um and I love the fact that the I think uh certain things give us a sense of security, things that are familiar to us. So I love the analogy of like putting the sweater and keeping it on, you know, because that's in in a way it's just your, you know, speaking for myself, it gives maybe just a sense of security, but it's not something that I need to be wearing all the time, you know. Yeah, and I think that is so good. And I think so many survivors um live with shame and and silence.

Shame, Silence, And One Small Choice

SPEAKER_00 19:05

And so how do you how what would you what would you and I know there's so much more in the book, but because a lot of people do live with that, and it sometimes that shame they carry that with them wherever they go, you know, and it could truly impact relationships, career, parenting, uh just you know, interpersonal relationships, it could just impact, it just kind of spring forwards out, and I feel like it really impacts people living in their fullest purpose um of who they're really called to be. How do you think, and I know you mentioned like therapy too was a part of your healing process. What would you say to a person that's that's dealing with shame and silence and they can't seem to get out of that box? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

Yeah, I think that's such an important point because I feel like when you are stuck in that, it feels impossible. Like it just feels like you there is this giant boulder in front of you that you cannot get through. And I definitely hear that and understand that. Um and so what makes me think of is um one of one of the keys that I I talk about, which this one I I also really love. I mean, I love all of them, but like this one is one that you can kind of visit wherever, like if you're stuck, if you haven't started yet, if you feel lost, this is like the go-to, like just start here. Right. And that's called Pave Your New Path with Choice. And it talks about how difficult it is to really pave a new path in life, right? Like and get unstuck and get out of that shame and and to love yourself again and release that for yourself. And it's all about small, sustainable choices, yeah. And so it's you don't have to solve the problem overnight, you don't have to get rid of the boulder in one shot, it's about chipping away, and so making small choices each day, each moment, um, that's toward healing, right? So if you're you're stuck in that shame and you're lost and you're like, I don't even know where to start. It's like one small choice can you make? Can you call one safe person? Yeah, can you make that therapy appointment? Can you join that that support group? You know, what or get that pen and paper and start writing it down. Get it out of your brain. Get just I loved what you said before. You got to get it out of your body.

SPEAKER_00 21:33

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

You know, just get it out, like write it down, and don't worry about it if it makes sense. Just write all the words, just write it. Yeah, like maybe it's setting a boundary, maybe it's deciding what you're not going to put in your body that day.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 21:48

You know, and that doesn't mean that you won't backtrack, doesn't mean that you you might make that choice today and not make it tomorrow. But you know what? You're one each time you do choose, yeah, you'll find that it gets easier to choose again.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

And it's the path becomes clearer and clearer. And then all of a sudden you're driving down this new path and you're like, oh, I don't have to think about this anymore.

SPEAKER_00 22:08

That's right. You know.

SPEAKER_01 22:08

And so, like, I think just it's one small step at a time. And realizing that you don't have to be healed instantly or overnight.

SPEAKER_03 22:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:18

And that it does take time and it takes work and it takes those small choices. And eventually those small choices become bigger ones.

SPEAKER_03 22:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 22:26

And I promise you that you will be able to look back like six months from now and be like, oh my gosh, I have grown or I do, I have healed a little bit. Might not be where your goal is, but you're getting there. And there is so much power in that because power over our choices is an amazing thing. Especially when that power has been taken from you before.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 22:49

To reclaim that. Like you, I get to choose now. And I don't care if it's simply as just going to get a coffee with my friend because I'm feeling down today. Yeah. I'm choosing that for myself. And that is like, you know what? Yes. Choose that for yourself because you deserve to. Yes. So I think like for anyone who's stuck, it's like thinking like one small choice at a time. I like when I say that on a podcast, I like to say, like, you're listening right now, you're choosing to listen. You haven't turned it off yet. You're choosing to listen. That's one small choice you're making right now.

SPEAKER_03 23:25

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

You know what will you choose next?

SPEAKER_00 23:28

That's that's so good. I think, you know, like you said, I think people can get overwhelmed with like what needs to be done. It's just like overwhelming because like I need to do this, that, this, that, and the other. And how long is it going to take me? And if you experience trauma or optimization in any space, I think courage, you get impacted in so many ways that that is an overwhelming task. And so I I love the fact that you said, like, you know, just the small wins. What choice will you make for yourself today? Um, you know, and then celebrate that. You know, I love the fact that that you said that I think some people get just overwhelmed. And I was one of those people myself, and it's a practice. I I don't always get it right, but I think celebrating the small ones or something to be said for that. And I think your support system is key in that too. Because yeah, they're gonna celebrate that with you and they're gonna honor it with you. And I know we're coming down the last couple of minutes, so I have a couple more questions. Uh, I want to go back to, and I've heard this before, I think you know, kind of doing the work can be painful. It's kind of like giving birth or, you know, or just you know, or just some some painful, it beautiful comes out of it. But the whole process can be painful at times. It can be, it can bring up something that is you want to push down, you know, you want to address, you don't want to talk about, but you really can't really fully effectively go through the healing process until you can address it, or it's just gonna spell out in other ways. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. What do you say to those listeners that they're

Doing The Work When It Hurts

SPEAKER_00 25:05

they're ready to do the work and they hit a bump and it's just very uncomfortable? They don't want to be there. I don't even think they want to come back, but at some point they're gonna have to look in that the mirror, they're gonna have to look at the story. Is there anything that makes it easier? What what what is your guidance on that? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 25:23

Yeah, I mean, easier, I don't know, right? Because it is hard. It is hard, right? Um, and I think my guidance is like you said, lean on the support because that's why it's there. Like you need the support when you're feeling weak and you're feeling like you want to give up. You really do. Yeah, and you know, also you can like reframe these things in your mind, right? And like I paint another picture in in my book about uh internal gardening.

SPEAKER_00 25:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:51

And I and I say to like picture these things as a weed, right? And so when you think about weeds, you can if you see them popping up and you just like snip off the top, yeah, right. Your your garden might look okay for a minute, but if you don't get to the root of these things, they will take over and they will suffocate everything beautiful. That's true. And so you have to tenderly and carefully get down to the root of things. Um, and I think that I know, you know, I know that it's hard. I know that it feels hopeless at times. And if we go back to like those one small steps and paving that path and just chipping away, when you feel lost, you can go there. When you feel lost, you can lean on your support.

SPEAKER_03 26:40

Right.

SPEAKER_01 26:40

And when you feel lost, you can think about your garden.

SPEAKER_03 26:44

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 26:45

And how, like, if I don't take care of this weed carefully, gently, this is not a you know, you don't just rip it out super fast because it's not going to get all of it. You have to really be tender with yourself. That's right. And and you know, so if anybody's a gardener, I'm new to gardening. So like real like soaking the soil and then like making sure that you're really getting those roots out. You think about how much stronger your garden will be after you do that. Yes, and and sometimes like when you just feel like you don't know where to go, I I want to go back to like saying it out loud to somebody. I think there is so much power in in giving it voice.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

Yeah, I really do.

SPEAKER_01 27:27

And that's why I think therapy is important and leaning on support because sometimes if you're just stuck and you don't know what to do, and you just talk to somebody and get all of the things out and say it out loud to somebody, you'll feel a release. And then you might be able to revisit and organize your next steps.

SPEAKER_02 27:48

That's right.

SPEAKER_01 27:49

Um, and so I think that you know, there's a number of things there, right? Is like not keeping it inside, right? Asking for help and accepting the help, because I think that we get really stuck with that. Um, you know, but choosing to be deserving of that. Yes, yeah, you do need to choose that you're deserving of that. And um really just viewing it as a garden that if you don't take care of these weeds, it it's gonna take over the whole garden. And then you won't even realize you won't even realize that they're weeds anymore. You'll think that that's just your garden.

SPEAKER_00 28:24

So yes, yes. I like that. Yeah, I love that analogy, like get the weeds up but get to the root, because uh what can turn into this garden you might think is extremely beautiful, but the beauty is there, but you you can't even really see it because you know you're not getting to the root. So I

Where To Find The Book

SPEAKER_00 28:44

love that. So if anyone's reach out to uh to purchase your book, what website do they go on? If they would like you as a speaker at an event, where can they go to to find that information out to connect?

SPEAKER_01 28:55

Yes, so uh you can go to my website, which is amymciernan.com. Um, that has links to uh campus outreach services, take back the night. Um, it has links to buy my book. You can go directly on Amazon. Uh, you can support independent authors and go to bookbabybookshop.com, but it's all on my website. You can find me on social media, connect. I would love to if you do read it, I would love your feedback and to hear what you thought. Awesome. Um, so yeah, that's that's how you can find me.

SPEAKER_00 29:24

Okay, that is wonderful. Amy, thank you. I know it was uh just under 30 minutes, but I appreciate you gave some wonderful nuggets of of just really enriching seeds of wisdom. I think, you know, uh some of the tips that you gave in terms of impact, you know, doing the work, you know, therapy, having that support system is just so critical. Um, you know, as you as people walk through their healing journey. Um, and so, and that you're living this out, you're a living example. And sometimes I think people need to see that, talk to it, see it to know that this is real and this is possible. Um, and that people are not isolated in shame. Yeah, yes. So, Amy, thank you. I'll make sure that your information's in my description of the podcast when I edit it, but it's truly been a pleasure today. And I thank you for being an overcomer, and I thank you for being on the Overcomers Approach podcast. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 30:16

Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure. Thank you.