Awakened Phoenix Counseling LLC

06/09/2026

An empowering night out for an amazing cause!Grab your girls and join us for a fun, confidence-boosting evening designed to help women connect, unwind, and feel empowered — all while supporting a meaningful local cause.Your ticket includes:✨ A beginner-friendly self-defense class to build confid...

06/05/2026

While this is true, a catchy slogan is entirely useless without an everyday practice of bodily autonomy at home. Children cannot protect boundaries they do not know they are allowed to have. We cannot expect a child to yell and run from unsafe behavior if we haven't clearly explained from a very young age what s*x is, what parts of our bodies are private, and if we don't honor their autonomy where they live.

That means if a child gets to the age where they want privacy in the bathroom, you give it to them as long as it is safe. If they do not want you watching them get undressed, you honor that choice. More importantly, you never violently rip off their clothes or force them to disrobe to ‘discipline’ them on a very obvious private body part. You don’t hit them at all. Period.

Doing so completely obliterates their sense of boundaries and teaches them that if someone bigger and stronger wants to forcibly access or expose their body, they have no right to stop them. Because the vast majority of child victims know their abuser, true prevention isn't just about teaching a phrase to use against strangers. It is about fostering a safe home environment where a child's "no" is respected, their privacy is fiercely protected, and their physical autonomy is treated as absolute.

05/11/2026

Officially published Saturday and already made it to #1. I’m so thankful

05/10/2026

Now available on Amazon

When "Home" Becomes a War Zone We think of home as a sanctuary, but for those living with an abuser, it is a mental cage under constant surveillance. In Domestic Violence: An Examination of Control, Biology, and Systemic Failure of Domestic Violence Survivors, Peggy Escobedo, LMHC, NCC,CCTP-II, N...

04/02/2026

07/12/2025

Today, our community is hurting from the tragic loss of life that occurred on Thursday. My heart goes out to everyone impacted by this profound loss. As a mental health counselor, I want to shed light on some difficult truths about domestic violence, not to place blame, but to foster understanding and support for those caught in its devastating cycle. It's natural to ask, "Why don't they just leave?" or "Why don't they just go no contact?". These questions, while understandable, often overlook the complexities and barriers those living with domestic violence face. Through the nature of the abuse, many are left isolated and dependent on their abusers. The controlling behavior of abusers makes reaching out for help seem impossible. Leaving an abusive relationship is incredibly dangerous, and often the most vulnerable time. When there are shared children in the relationship, cutting contact is often not an option. When the survivor tries to leave is often the most dangerous time, as abusers attempt to reassert control. Studies show that the risk of lethal homicide increases following separation from an abusive partner up to one year following a divorce or separation. The risk of DV-related homicide increases 40-75% following a separation. In some fatality review projects, just under half of the reviewed fatal incidents involved current or former intimate partners where the relationship had ended or the couple had separated.
If you or someone you love is part of a violent relationship, there is help available: Council on Domestic Abuse (CODA) Wabash Valley, 1-800-566-CODA (2632) or 812-232-1736. Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) 24-Hour Statewide Hotline: 1-800-332-7385 (English/Español).
Remember, if you are concerned that your internet usage might be monitored, consider using a safer computer (e.g., at a library, friend's house) or call a hotline directly. Many hotline websites also have a quick "Exit Site" button.

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