Trauma & Survivor Events
Survivor, Speaker, and Bestselling Author Darlene Lekowski
Trauma & Survivor Events: Darlene is a survivor of sibling sexual trauma and abuse (SSTA) who delivers presentations to mental health professionals and organizations dedicated to child advocacy (law enforcement, case management, etc).
As featured on…
Shattering Silence
Reflections on Justice & Agency in Trauma and Abuse Cases
Ideal for:
Survivor support organizations, mental health professionals, child advocacy groups, law enforcement and case managers, legal professionals working in trauma cases, and conferences focused on trauma and sexual abuse prevention and recovery.
Description:
For survivors, advocates, and the professionals who support them, the path from trauma and abuse to healing is rarely straight, and rarely simple. In this deeply personal and unflinchingly honest talk, Darlene Lekowski shares what fifty years of silence, a devastating legal battle, and a hard-won victory taught her about truth, agency, and the courage it takes to finally speak.
Drawing from her #1 bestselling memoir and her lived experience as a survivor of childhood sibling sexual trauma and abuse (SSTA), Darlene offers a perspective that no training manual can provide — the view from inside the experience itself. This is not a talk about statistics or systems. It's a talk about what it actually feels like to carry a secret, to be disbelieved, to fight back, and to win. And it's a testament to what becomes possible when survivors are finally given — or finally claim — the space to tell their truth.
Audiences will leave with:
A deeper understanding of the barriers — emotional and literal — that keep survivors silent
A powerful metaphor — Pandora’s Box: for thinking about agency and empowerment in trauma recovery
Renewed hope that it is possible for survivors to emerge strong and successful
Real Stories. Real Impact.
How Darlene's message is inspiring courage, healing, and change.
Truth Sets Us Free
"Shattering Silence shows that silence may protect briefly, but truth sets us free."
- Jane Epstein
Author of I Feel Real Guilty
You Are Brave. You Are Stronger Than You Think.
""You are brave. You are stronger than you think. And you can heal."
- Cindy Wellwood Burke
Sibling Abuse SurvivorA Voice for Survivors Everywhere
"Her victory felt larger than a personal triumph. It felt like a victory for survivors everywhere who have struggled to be heard, believed, or understood."
- Noémie Gaspard
Survivor AdvocateHealing Begins the Moment a Story Is Spoken
"It is a stark reminder of how transformative it can be when someone chooses truth over silence, and how healing begins the moment a story is finally spoken aloud."
- Dianna FeurigYou Are Not Alone
"I know that Darlene's story will help others to see that they are not alone, there is help out there and there will be light again."
- Julie TostrudA Brave and Necessary Memoir
"Darlene gives voice to the girl she once was and to many who still live in silence. Honest, vulnerable and ultimately hopeful."
- Alice Perle
Author of ResolveWorking with Darlene is simple
Step 1: Let Go
Schedule a 40-min call with Darlene to discuss your event, audience, and goals.
Step 2: Break Free
Darlene will propose a personalized presentation to exceed your expectations.
Step 3: Live Forward
Inspire your audience to embrace courage, reclaim personal agency, and move forward with renewed perspective, purpose, and hope.