Unmasking Digital Abuse and Healing Through Wellness

I Feel You, A Fortify Wellness Production

What does it take to transform personal adversity into a beacon of hope for others? Join us as Andrea Powell, an unwavering advocate for survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, shares the powerful story behind her co-founding of organizations like Fair Girls and Karana Rising. Her journey from personal trauma to becoming a force for justice and healing reveals the importance of early trauma education and the urgent need to destigmatize conversations about survivorship.
In a heartfelt conversation, we delve into the psychological terrain of trauma recovery, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and respecting personal boundaries. Andrea opens up about the hurdles she overcame in navigating public spaces and interactions after experiencing trauma. Through shared anecdotes, we highlight the empowering process of identifying triggers, setting boundaries, and reclaiming personal safety and autonomy. The discussion underscores the vital role of self-acceptance and the validation of emotional responses, aiming to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health.
The digital age has brought its own set of challenges for survivors, and Andrea sheds light on the distressing phenomenon of online image abuse. We discuss the emotional and systemic battles victims face in removing non-consensual content and the groundbreaking efforts of Electo AI in combatting digital abuse. The conversation rounds out with an exploration of wellness practices like therapy, fitness, meditation, and journaling, offering a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being. Tune in for a compelling episode that champions resilience, healing, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Andrea Powell is the Director of the Image-based Sexual Abuse Initiative at Panorama and the cofounder of Karana Rising. For the past 18 years, she has led national and international efforts to develop services, housing, and policies to advance the rights and healing of survivors of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and sexual abuse.

In 2004, Andrea co-founded FAIR Girls, where she led her team for 14 years in providing case management services and establishing a safe home for survivors in Washington, D.C, and played a leadership role with the DC Human Trafficking Task Force. At Karana Rising, co-founded by Andrea in 2019, survivors lead to advance justice and healing with and for survivors who have experienced arrest and incarceration as a result of their own trafficking. Through these efforts, Andrea has served and interfaced with over 2,000 survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence in the United States, the Balkans, Russia, Bangladesh, India, and Uganda.

Andrea has a master’s degree from the University of Bonn, Germany. In her spare time, she is a multimedia artist, author, and bunny mom living with her daughter on the beach in San Diego.

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Chapters

1. Women Overcoming Adversity and Trauma (00:00:00)

2. Navigating Trauma and Setting Boundaries (00:13:01)

3. Online Image Abuse and Trauma Healing (00:28:41)

4. Wellness Practices and Strategies (00:36:41)