book_cover_by_monique_elise2
We can only cruise along the surface for so long before the body collects what is owed. That debt can manifest in a whole range of emotional and physical health issues, such as addiction, depression, and PTSD.

 

Monique combines personal experience and scientific research into an easy-to-read book that reveals not only the long-term effects but also our inherent power to heal.

 

Transformation happens when we boldly face the dark.
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Stay tuned for more…

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Storytelling is a powerful medium that is not only healing but also helps to combat societal stigma.

Together, by sharing our stories and experiences, we can transform pain and trauma into a meaningful body of work that shines a light on stigmatized concerns, such as childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and addiction.

You can share your story, article, or poem by emailing me through the link below, and I will publish it for you. Please let me know if you would like to remain anonymous, or if you’re comfortable to include your name.

My Sober Sexual Awakening by Tawny Lara

I was a bonafide party girl for more than 10 years, personifying the stereotypes with slurred words and a boozy smile. I danced on bars, pursed my lips to make a duck face for pictures and loudly [...]

BREAKING THE CYCLE by Jessica Lopez

My parents couldn’t have been more different. My mom was emotionally present and very involved. She never made me feel like a burden. She never drank too much. She was the glue that kept our [...]

Never underestimate the power of your voice! Each word, cry, and sound helps to break the silence, shame, and stigma ~

Thank you for sharing, my friend! 

Storytelling is a powerful medium that is not only healing but also helps to combat societal stigma.

Together, by sharing our stories and experiences, we can transform pain and trauma into a meaningful body of work that shines a light on stigmatized concerns such as childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and addiction.

Simply email me your story, you can choose to remain anonymous, or if you’re comfortable include your name.

Thank you for sharing!

Join me for regular girl talk and coffee!

Storytelling is a powerful medium that is not only healing but also helps to combat societal stigma.

Together, by sharing our stories and experiences, we can transform pain and trauma into a meaningful body of work that shines a light on stigmatized concerns such as childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and addiction.

You can choose to remain anonymous, or if you’re comfortable include your name.

Thank you for sharing!

ABOUT GIRL TALK & COFFEE

Welcome to our cozy spot, where the Coffee is strong and the Girl Talk is real.

I created this space in hopes of bringing together a community of like-minded women who are ready to plunge beneath the surface. If you’ve experienced childhood trauma, sexual assault, depression, addiction or the loss of a loved one to addiction then you already know — these are uncomfortable topics – ones that become your shameful secrets.

In recent years, I learned that we can only cruise along the surface for so long, before the body collects what is owed. That debt may come in the form of depression, mental illness, extreme fatigue, addiction, or disease.

And stigma and shame can compound these issues, by shoving us into dark, isolated holes – this, I wasn’t able to comprehend, until my body caught up with me. I found myself lying to people, and making up excuses, in order to hide the truth. I couldn’t bare the thought of people knowing that I was depressed because that meant I was unstable and weak. I couldn’t explain that I was grieving because my brother was a heroin addict and it felt like he was dead. Or, that his heroin addiction was triggering memories from our past, when our mother had been a heroin addict, along with the rest of our family, and yes, I had been one, too. But, even scarier to say out loud was that I had been raped, while drunk, and I was finding it difficult not to blame myself. And how could I possibly explain that the rape had since triggered terrifying body memories of childhood sexual abuse – surely, a conversation that leaves one uncomfortable and you looking crazy!

And just like that, my whole life became one big shameful secret, much of it too heavy to share with even my closest friends. So, I pulled away.

Girl Talk & Coffee was born from that experience. I wanted to connect with others who could relate and provide a place that was safe and supportive, where ANY topic would be welcome – No judgement – No shame.

By exploring our stories and experiences I hope that we can all find comfort in knowing that we are not alone. We may be at different stages of this journey, with some further ahead, acting as a light for those behind them.

It’s here, writing to you, where I am most comfortable and able to pull back the curtain. It’s not pretty.

It’s dark.

It’s ugly – but, it’s real.

So, instead of leaving the shameful parts of me a secret, I’m going to turn around and face them. The nasty scabs will be ripped off, the wounds will be poked, and then shaped into something I can share with you. If you would like to do the same, you can submit via email, or click on the, “Share Your Story,” tab: hsdfsfhhfh

I hope you’ll join me on this journey, I can’t promise it will be easy, but I can promise you won’t be alone. Inside you’ll find nuggets of hope, and inspiration, along with jolts of courage to keep you forging ahead on your own healing path.

We all deserve a life beyond survival mode, but it’s up to each of us to pull ourselves into the light.
So, let’s do it!

Come on in, and pour yourself a hot cup of coffee

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