Rising Above Shadows Of Abuse

Grace Ovba
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Rising Above Shadows Of Abuse Show with Grace Ovba, is about the topical issues of abuse prevalent in our society and culture. The impact on lives and possible reformation strategies. The show portrays real life stories of exceptional valiant women, who suffered pain, shame, trauma and guilt. Some of these individuals, used the tools of healing, forgiveness and compassion to serve as a positive propellant to actualising their dreams and breaking barriers in their various fields of human endeavours. Each episode showcases case studies, stories, inspirational talks; involving interviews, conversations, solo/panel sessions with survivors, everyday people, professionals, charities, thought leaders and notable guests(Celebrities) KEY TAKEAWAYS "Abuse changes your life... Fight back and change the life of your abusers by breaking your silence on abuse" - Patty Rase Hopson ''So many people suffer abuse and suffer alone'' -Pamela Stephenson ''To those who abuse: The sin is yours, the crime is yours and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpetrators: blaming the victim only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.'' - Flora Jessop #I take back my power #Voice for the Voiceless #Resilience #Courage #Mental health ABOUT THE HOST - GRACE OVBA Grace is a survivor of Domestic Violence, who is passionate about using her experiences to pave the way for other victims who are stuck in any form of abusive situations. She is a transformational coach, mentor, author, inspirational speaker and mother. She has a background in education, law and psychotherapy. She's on a mission to bring healing and wholeness to bruised and broken women. Registered member of BACP (British Association For Counselling and Psychotherapy) Registered member of Law Society UK Connect via email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com Social media platforms: twitter @risinaboveabuse YouTube @risingaboveshadowsofabuse Patreon @risingaboveshadowsofabuse.com

  1. 4d ago

    National News On Abuse UK

    Grace explores various abuse newsreels around the United Kingdom- London, Scotland, Wales, Devon, Nottinghamshire and Northern Ireland. MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  2. Sep 24

    World News On Abuse

    Grace explores different global newsreels on abuse. Stories on rape, sexual assault, gender violence, femicide, kidnap, mutilation & murder, forced marriages, child molestation, tech abuse, including domestic abuse. Countries involved are: China, France, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA, Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  3. Sep 17

    "Born Through Pain, Raised Into Power"

    Grace converses with Tina McArdle, a medical secretary, an ambassador for Solace -a domestic abuse charity and a volunteer for the rape crisis helpline. She was raised in a domestic abuse environment and is a product of rape. She is an epitome of strength and courage... QUOTES: “You are not the darkness you endured. You are the light that refused to surrender.” — Unknown “Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing creates change you do.” — Michelle Rosenthal “What happened to you is not your fault. But healing is your responsibility.” — Dr. Thema Bryant “The wound is the place where the light enters you.” — Rumi “You don’t have to carry what broke you.” — Unknown “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” — Epictetus “Your story doesn’t end where the pain began.” — Unknown “Healing takes time, and asking for help is a courageous step.” — Mariska Hargitay PODCAST KEY TAKEAWAYS: Healing is possible even when your story begins in trauma You are not defined by how you were conceived or raised Generational trauma can be broken with awareness and intention Love can be relearned in healthy, safe ways Boundaries are essential for survival and growth Your past may shape you, but it does not have to control you Forgiveness is a process—not a requirement Identity can be reclaimed and rewritten Safety (emotional + physical) is the foundation of all relationships Speaking your truth is a form of liberation JOURNAL PROMPTS: What beliefs about love did I learn growing up? How has my past influenced my ability to trust people today? What does a safe relationship look like to me? Where do I still feel the impact of past trauma in my life? What cycles am I ready to break? How do I define love now vs. how I defined it as a child? What boundaries do I need to feel safe? In what ways have I already begun healing? What does forgiveness mean to me personally? How can I show compassion to my younger self? What kind of family or relationships do I want to create? What does “peace” feel like in my body? Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  4. Sep 10

    "Be Strong: When Survival Becomes Identity"

    Grace sits with Wioletta Anna Orlecka, the author of 'The Strong One.' She explores on this episode, the woven intricacies of hidden architecture of trauma - Childhood, memory, body memory, inherited silence and the way women are expected to hold everything together, whilst receiving nothing in return... QUOTES: “The body keeps the score.” — Bessel van der Kolk “Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happens to you.” — Gabor Maté “No one heals in isolation.” — Judith Herman “What is silenced in one generation is often spoken in symptoms in the next.” — Ann Shulgin "A woman who tells the truth always provokes more discomfort than the man who hurt her." 'Be Strong' - Wioletta Orlecka "Social systems share one feature: they trust men more than exhausted women" - 'Be Strong'- Wioletta Orlecka. "Steel is the derivatives of survival"- 'Be Strong' - Wioletta Orlecka "Survivors create their own systems of support and own maps of survival" -'Be Strong' - Wioletta Orlecka "A strong woman is one who was ignored long enough; learnt how to survive and thrive on her own terms." - Grace Ovba KEY PODCAST TAKEAWAYS: Strength is often mis-defined as silent endurance rather than supported survival.Trauma is not only psychological—it is stored in the body and expressed through reactions, triggers, and patterns.Many survivors become experts in functioning, not healing.Injustice deepens when experiences are not named or witnessed.Family systems can hold both love and harm simultaneously, creating emotional confusion.Generational trauma often begins with silence, not violence alone.Healing begins when experience is finally acknowledged without minimisation.Women are often socially rewarded for endurance and punished for needing help.Survival is not heroic—it is adaptive.True healing requires safety, not just awareness. JOURNAL PROMPTS: Where in my life did I learn to equate strength with silence? What responsibilities do I carry that no one sees or acknowledges? When did I first feel I had to “hold everything together” alone? What emotions did I learn to hide to stay accepted or safe? What does my body remember that my mind avoids? What kind of support did I need but never receive? Where do I confuse love with endurance? What would safety look like in my current life? What generational patterns do I carry that I did not choose? What would “being strong” look like if it included asking for help? Free Book "The Strong One"- By Wioletta Anna Orlecka: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QiHzPEfhsEvAGgkPj98B0UZK9lHoT1X_/view?usp=sharing Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  5. Sep 3

    From Pain To Pages: How Storytelling Heals Hidden Wounds

    David Deane Haskell is Grace's guest in today's episode and the theme is deeply aligned with survival, truth-telling and emotional healing. - Perfect for creating a powerful, impactful conversation that resonates with listeners on a personal level. QUOTES “The pain we don’t face becomes the life we live.” — Dean Haskett “Shame survives in silence, but it cannot survive truth.” — Dean Haskett “Healing begins the moment you stop pretending you’re not hurt.” — Dean Haskett “We carry the past not because we want to, but because we haven’t been shown how to let it go.” — David Deane Haskell “Addiction is often the language of unspoken pain.” — David Deane Haskell “Your story doesn’t end where the pain begins.” — David Deane Haskell “What you totally avoid today will ask for your attention tomorrow.” - Grace Ovba PODCAST KEY TAKEAWAYS Unresolved pain doesn’t disappear—it transforms and resurfaces until it is acknowledged. Addiction is often a symptom, not the root cause. Shame thrives in silence but loses power when spoken. Healing is not linear—it is a long, ongoing process. Storytelling can be a powerful pathway to understanding and release. Facing the truth is painful, but avoidance is often more destructive. You are not defined by what happened to you—but by what you choose to do with it. JOURNAL PROMPTS What pain have I been avoiding, and why? Where does shame show up in my life? What patterns in my life might be rooted in past experiences? When did I first learn to suppress my emotions? What would it feel like to tell my story honestly? What am I afraid will happen if I face my past? How has silence shaped my life? What does healing look like for me right now—not perfectly, but realistically? What am I still carrying that no longer serves me? If I could speak to my younger self, what would I say? What does forgiveness mean to me—if anything? Where in my life am I ready to begin again? What support do I need to continue my healing journey? What truth have I been afraid to admit? How can I begin to release even a small piece of my pain today? Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  6. Aug 27

    National News On Abuse UK

    Grace explores various national newsreels on abuse in the UK. Stories about femicide, child abuse, domestic abuse, rape and sexual assault, mental health issues and economic abuse. Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  7. Aug 20

    "Seen, Safe, Heard: The Missing Layer Of School Safeguarding"

    On today's episode, Grace sits with Chris Yardon the director of Saprea to talk about child sexual abuse and school safety; which is often shrouded in bureaucracy... Podcast Key Takeaways: 1. Safety is not just physical—it is relational A school can be physically secure and still be psychologically unsafe. If a child cannot speak, they are not truly safe. 2. Emotional safety drives disclosure Children disclose harm where they feel: believed, respected and not judged. Without emotional safety, safeguarding systems fail before they begin. 3. Silence, stigma, and fear increase risk These are not side issues—they are core risk factors. They delay disclosure, deepen harm, and protect perpetrators. 4. Isolation increases vulnerability Students who feel different, excluded, or misunderstood are at higher risk—particularly: neuro-divergent students, students with SEND; socially marginalised young people. Belonging is not optional—it is protective. 5. School climate is a safeguarding issue. Culture determines: whether harm is noticed, whether it is reported and whether it is addressed. Climate is not “soft”—it is structural. 6. Prevention happens before crisis Real safeguarding looks like: early noticing, trusted relationships, open conversations and accessible reporting. If we wait for evidence of harm, we are already late. 7. Trauma is compounded by not being believed Institutional silence or dismissal can deepen trauma as much as the original harm. 8. Prevention is not ideological—it is evidence-based The focus is simple: reduce risk, increase protection, strengthen trust and enable early disclosure. Quotable Quotes: “The greatest risk in a school is not what is seen—it’s what is silenced.” “A child who cannot speak is a child who is not safe.” “Safeguarding does not begin with policy. It begins with trust.” “Silence is not neutrality—it is a condition where harm survives.” “Emotional safety is not a luxury. It is the gateway to protection.” “Most abuse is not prevented by surveillance—but by disclosure.” “If a child fears the response, they will protect the silence.” “Belonging is not just wellbeing—it is a protective factor.” “Systems don’t just respond to harm—they can create the conditions for it.” “The question is not ‘Did we follow procedure?’ but ‘Did the child feel safe enough to speak?’” “Prevention is quiet. It happens long before anyone is watching.” Contact Chris Yardon: Website: https://saprea.org/ Instagram: https://applink.instagram.com/saprea_org?ig_mid=D501F206-AB02-42E8-A4AE-B946A84CDA86&utm_source=igweb&fall_back_to_web=false Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100069905483802/posts/pfbid02PxPys93KVKdxYs47UvugajeLmfPs7VHFpB6yHjazcTnQWAtWkymH6ZHMuBzEdjtCl/ Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-yadon-mpa-3533937 Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

  8. Aug 13

    AI for Trauma Awareness: Dr. Turner on Using Technology to Detect Coercive Control

    Grace is joined in today's episode by Dr. Lisa Turner — a survivor, an award-winning coach and founder of CET Freedom. Her work sits at the cutting edge of trauma awareness, where artificial intelligence meets lived experience. Having survived trafficking and grooming as a teenager, Dr. Turner has transformed her journey into a mission: to make the invisible visible. Through precision-built AI tools, she is helping uncover the subtle, often overlooked patterns of coercive control within relationships — patterns that can be difficult to name, yet deeply significant. ` Quotes “AI can hold far more variables in view at once, making it easier to identify patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.” — Dr. Turner“Rather than relying on generic chatbots, my work focuses on structured models that reflect what truly happens within and between human minds.” — Dr. Turner“Carefully designed AI systems can support deeper awareness and meaningful change — turning insight into action.” — Dr. Turner Key Takeaways AI Reveals the Invisible Artificial intelligence can identify subtle relational and behavioral patterns that are often missed by the human eye, especially in cases of coercive control. Structured Intelligence Over Generic Tools Dr. Turner’s work goes beyond standard AI chatbots by using structured psychological and behavioural models that reflect real human dynamics. Clarity Through Complexity Her AI systems are designed to hold multiple variables at once, offering deeper insight and faster decision-making clarity. Lived Experience as Innovation Her personal journey through trauma informs the authenticity, depth, and effectiveness of her work. A New Frontier in Personal Development CET Freedom’s AI tools are reshaping coaching, leadership, and personal growth by integrating trauma awareness with advanced technology. Journal Prompts Reflect on a relationship where something felt “off” but was difficult to explain. What patterns do you now recognize in hindsight?How could technology — particularly AI — support your personal growth, healing, or decision-making process?Write about a moment when increased awareness (through insight, support, or tools) helped you reclaim your power. Contact Dr. Lisa Turner: Website: https://cetfreedom.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cetfreedom Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cetfreedom/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlisaturner/ Linkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liturner Twitter / X: https://x.com/DrLisaTurner TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drlisaturner Book a therapy and, or coaching session via my website: https://www.freedom4betterlife.com/ MBACP- Certified. (British Association For Counselling & Psychotherapy) Contacts For RASA: +447984098577 Email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com To contribute, use #participation to be a guest, # feedback or comment on the subject title. To share your story on the podcast, kindly send an email to: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com - using #STORY for subject title. Kindly subscribe and leave reviews on Spotify, Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rising-above-shadows-of-abuse/id1592540880 Follow RASA Podcast on social media. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Realrasa1/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasareal1/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/risinaboveabuse TikTok: https://tiktok.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuse YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UColB9fTRkBSuon4lfsFaSJw Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risingaboveshadowsofabuse/ Patreon: https://patreon.com/risingaboveshadowsofabuseEmail: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com

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Rising Above Shadows Of Abuse Show with Grace Ovba, is about the topical issues of abuse prevalent in our society and culture. The impact on lives and possible reformation strategies. The show portrays real life stories of exceptional valiant women, who suffered pain, shame, trauma and guilt. Some of these individuals, used the tools of healing, forgiveness and compassion to serve as a positive propellant to actualising their dreams and breaking barriers in their various fields of human endeavours. Each episode showcases case studies, stories, inspirational talks; involving interviews, conversations, solo/panel sessions with survivors, everyday people, professionals, charities, thought leaders and notable guests(Celebrities) KEY TAKEAWAYS "Abuse changes your life... Fight back and change the life of your abusers by breaking your silence on abuse" - Patty Rase Hopson ''So many people suffer abuse and suffer alone'' -Pamela Stephenson ''To those who abuse: The sin is yours, the crime is yours and the shame is yours. To those who protect the perpetrators: blaming the victim only masks the evil within, making you as guilty as those who abuse. Stand up for the innocent or go down with the rest.'' - Flora Jessop #I take back my power #Voice for the Voiceless #Resilience #Courage #Mental health ABOUT THE HOST - GRACE OVBA Grace is a survivor of Domestic Violence, who is passionate about using her experiences to pave the way for other victims who are stuck in any form of abusive situations. She is a transformational coach, mentor, author, inspirational speaker and mother. She has a background in education, law and psychotherapy. She's on a mission to bring healing and wholeness to bruised and broken women. Registered member of BACP (British Association For Counselling and Psychotherapy) Registered member of Law Society UK Connect via email: risingaboveshadowsofabuse@gmail.com Social media platforms: twitter @risinaboveabuse YouTube @risingaboveshadowsofabuse Patreon @risingaboveshadowsofabuse.com

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