Breaking Silence: Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

In this episode, Amber Larkins interviews Merle Yost, a psychotherapist and author, about trauma, particularly for men who were sexually abused as children. They discuss the importance of addressing trauma and the challenges men face in expressing their emotions. Merle shares his personal story of childhood trauma and the impact it had on his life. They also touch on the issue of trauma within religious organizations and the need for healing and acceptance. The conversation explores the topics of religious abuse, control, forgiveness, triggers, and the healing journey. Amber expresses her concerns about the use of scripture to control and manipulate people, while Merle shares his experience of finding a spiritual connection outside of Christianity. They discuss the concept of forgiveness and the importance of working through pain and taking back personal power. The conversation also touches on the impact of childhood trauma and the role of therapy in healing. Merle shares information about his books, workshops, and therapy services. Takeaways Trauma, especially childhood trauma, can have a profound impact on a person's life and relationships. Men often face societal pressure to suppress their emotions, which can hinder their personal growth and healing. Therapeutic approaches like EMDR can be effective in addressing trauma and facilitating healing. Cultural norms and gender roles play a significant role in shaping how men and women express their emotions and navigate relationships. Religious organizations can sometimes perpetuate trauma and judgment, highlighting the need for healing and acceptance within these communities. Religious abuse occurs when scripture is used to control and manipulate people. Forgiveness is a personal choice and should not be forced upon someone. Triggers are indicators that there is more healing work to be done. Childhood trauma can shape a person's responses and reactions in adulthood. Therapy can be a powerful tool for healing and personal growth. To learn more about Merle   https://unspokenboundaries.com To Learn More about Amber Larkins Listen to Other Episodes of Through The Trauma Podcast  On APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/through-the-trauma-podcast/id1673698956 ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/4mjPVR2JXTCJdE46dBvLKT?si=FHX9WJUbSdyhsKpIp66lNA ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@amberlarkinsempowerography?si=Q98M0qLPiE9zRA_w Follow us on Social Media Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/empowerographyfiles/  https://www.instagram.com/the_amber_larkins/  Facebook Fitography Files Business Page  Https://www.facebook.com/fitographyfiles/ Personal Page  https://www.facebook.com/amber.larkins.39/  YouTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@amberlarkinsempowerography  LINKED IN  https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-larkins-43529986/ Twitter  https://twitter.com/Fitographyfiles TIKTOK https://www.tiktok.com/@empowerography  Learn To Build Impactful Content Join Our Free Facebook Group  Empowering Content with a Purpose https://www.facebook.com/groups/663655081742018  Want to further your impact through content?  Get your free Content Strategy Session - BOOK HERE https://calendly.com/launchyourlegacy/content-consultation  _________________________________________________________________________ Learn More about our Photography Website  https://www.empoweringheadshots.com Testimonial working with Amber  Elizabeth Smith Testimonial https://youtu.be/kTLa6D2AUq0  Learn More About Our Transformation Through Trauma Project Videos Website https://transformationthroughtraumaproject.com   Svetlana Newsome’s Story  https://youtu.be/0Gkx7on8Psc  Lakeia Stokes Story  https://youtu.be/eJeOXRMTQKM  Dani Dyer Story https://youtu.be/caJapJzcxEM  Keywords trauma, men, sexual abuse, childhood, emotions, therapy, EMDR, boundaries, culture, gender roles, parenting, healing, church, judgment, religious abuse, control, forgiveness, triggers, healing journey, childhood trauma, therapy