52 min
Breaking the Cycle of Sexual Exploitation: a Story of Restoration The Refined Collective Podcast
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- Christianity
Victim of sexual exploitation turned UCLA honor student, Harmony Grillo founded the non-profit Treasures in 2003 to help women and girls entrenched in sexual exploitation find freedom. She has provided training for the Department of Justice and the FBI and has helped launch outreaches in 120 cities worldwide. She shares her story in her memoir, Scars and Stilettos. This week on the podcast, we chat about how God has redeemed dreams in her life, how she learned to acknowledge the trauma bonds in her life and find freedom from sexual exploitation, and now help others find that same freedom.
Redeeming the Dream
Harmony shares some moments, big and small, where her dreams didn’t play out the way she wanted them to. God redeemed the dream every time. “I’m living God’s promise of restoration.”
Trauma Bonds
Harmony’s history is full of abuse and trauma. Later in her childhood, an older guy friend who she thought of as a protector became her abuser and exploiter when she worked in strip clubs. Trauma bonds involve a power imbalance where there is erratic abuse and there are scattered times of good.
Freedom From Sexual Exploitation
She fondly remembers a girl she met at the time who loved her as she was and helped her on her journey to freedom. “I didn’t start making those changes because someone told me that I should, I did it because it’s what I desired and what I felt like I was being invited to do as I walked out my path of growing in relationship with Him.” She reflects on this time and realizes that she wouldn’t have had the same transformation she did if she was simply given a strict set of rules to follow.
Treasures
Treasures is Harmony’s faith-based organization, though it welcomes all religions. They meet everyone where they’re at and respect who they are as they are. “What are we being invited into?” “Sometimes the most therapeutic thing is a healthy, reciprocal relationship where you feel emotionally safe.”
Resources:
Check out Harmony’s websites iamatreasure.com and harmonygrillo.com Keep up with her on Instagram at @harmonygrillo and @treasures.la You can buy her memoir, Scars and Stilettos, and learn more about her story here.
Resources on Women + Hyper-sexualization in Our Culture
Boys and Sex by Peggy Orenstein Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy
Did you know we have a Patreon page? Patreon is a platform that lets listeners financially support their favorite podcasts for as little as $5/mo. (That’s cheaper than a cup of NYC coffee y’all!) Head over to Patreon.com/therefinedcollective to see how you can support the podcast (and get some pretty awesome goodies as a thank you)! Another way you can support the podcast is by sharing with friends! Just copy this link and then paste into the group chat with your besties: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-refined-collective-podcast/id1348034641#episodeGuid=30c48f6a66bb4bfca88b0f6522037407
Single ladies— do you feel stuck, lonely, discouraged or frustrated by your dating life, or lack thereof? This is brought to you by my free guide called “6 Tips to Activate Your Dating Life with Intention and Clarity.” These resources propelled me from sitting on the couch to out on a date. Head over to Bit.ly/trwdating to check it out!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Victim of sexual exploitation turned UCLA honor student, Harmony Grillo founded the non-profit Treasures in 2003 to help women and girls entrenched in sexual exploitation find freedom. She has provided training for the Department of Justice and the FBI and has helped launch outreaches in 120 cities worldwide. She shares her story in her memoir, Scars and Stilettos. This week on the podcast, we chat about how God has redeemed dreams in her life, how she learned to acknowledge the trauma bonds in her life and find freedom from sexual exploitation, and now help others find that same freedom.
Redeeming the Dream
Harmony shares some moments, big and small, where her dreams didn’t play out the way she wanted them to. God redeemed the dream every time. “I’m living God’s promise of restoration.”
Trauma Bonds
Harmony’s history is full of abuse and trauma. Later in her childhood, an older guy friend who she thought of as a protector became her abuser and exploiter when she worked in strip clubs. Trauma bonds involve a power imbalance where there is erratic abuse and there are scattered times of good.
Freedom From Sexual Exploitation
She fondly remembers a girl she met at the time who loved her as she was and helped her on her journey to freedom. “I didn’t start making those changes because someone told me that I should, I did it because it’s what I desired and what I felt like I was being invited to do as I walked out my path of growing in relationship with Him.” She reflects on this time and realizes that she wouldn’t have had the same transformation she did if she was simply given a strict set of rules to follow.
Treasures
Treasures is Harmony’s faith-based organization, though it welcomes all religions. They meet everyone where they’re at and respect who they are as they are. “What are we being invited into?” “Sometimes the most therapeutic thing is a healthy, reciprocal relationship where you feel emotionally safe.”
Resources:
Check out Harmony’s websites iamatreasure.com and harmonygrillo.com Keep up with her on Instagram at @harmonygrillo and @treasures.la You can buy her memoir, Scars and Stilettos, and learn more about her story here.
Resources on Women + Hyper-sexualization in Our Culture
Boys and Sex by Peggy Orenstein Girls and Sex by Peggy Orenstein Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy
Did you know we have a Patreon page? Patreon is a platform that lets listeners financially support their favorite podcasts for as little as $5/mo. (That’s cheaper than a cup of NYC coffee y’all!) Head over to Patreon.com/therefinedcollective to see how you can support the podcast (and get some pretty awesome goodies as a thank you)! Another way you can support the podcast is by sharing with friends! Just copy this link and then paste into the group chat with your besties: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-refined-collective-podcast/id1348034641#episodeGuid=30c48f6a66bb4bfca88b0f6522037407
Single ladies— do you feel stuck, lonely, discouraged or frustrated by your dating life, or lack thereof? This is brought to you by my free guide called “6 Tips to Activate Your Dating Life with Intention and Clarity.” These resources propelled me from sitting on the couch to out on a date. Head over to Bit.ly/trwdating to check it out!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
52 min