89. Erika Shershun: From Tragedy to Triumph – A Journey of Healing from Unimaginable Trauma

Erika's life story sounds like a fictional crime novel…but the amazing aspect is that the truth really is sometimes stranger than fiction. The truth of Erika's horrific story is that her father killed himself when Erika was just 15. Years later, a brother also ended his own life. At 19 Erika was raped by a friend of the young man she was dating; and he set her up for the rape! But there were additional rapes after that one. Subsequently, Erika also tried to end her own life but, like she said in her interview, "it wasn't meant to be." Years later she had an overpowering and disturbing memory surface, she was sexually assaulted when she was an infant. After two decades spent in therapy, none of which addressed the root of the problem, sexual trauma, she realized she would have to piece together what was needed to heal on her own. She did this while going through the process of becoming a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in helping survivors heal from the devastation of sexual assault and rape. Erika's bio is impressive: "Erika Shershun, MA, LMFT, is a somatic psychotherapist who specializes in helping sexual trauma survivors reclaim the life they were meant to live. She's the author of the Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook, the Healing Sexual Trauma Guided Journal (March 2025 release), the facilitator of the PESI Sexual Trauma Clinical Training, and the upcoming Sexual Trauma Healing Journey (September 2024). Her approach is trauma informed, rooted in somatic principles, drawing on neuroscience and integrative modalities like EMDR, energy psychology, parts work, and mindfulness. Erika offers individual online therapy sessions in California and provides coaching to clients outside of the state. You can contact her or subscribe to her mailing list to receive your free copy of Healing Sexual Trauma, chapter 1 from the Healing Sexual Trauma Workbook at . I hope you listen to this episode. Erika's story is powerful, transparent, and inspiring. After you've heard the episode, please share it…its' a story that needs to be spread. That small act of sharing this episode will be your latest effort to help bring justice to others whose lives have been impacted by rape or sexual assault. And, remember to Start By Believing when it comes to listening to or supporting a victim or survivor of rape or sexual assault; because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. Here are some links and email addresses I would appreciate you taking a look at, and consider leaving a message! Thank you for your support of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, the SASS podcast! @erikashershun davemarkel@gmail.com I hope you listen to this episode. Erika's story is powerful, transparent, and inspiring. After you've heard the episode, please share it…its' a story that needs to be spread. That small act of sharing this episode will be your latest effort to help bring justice to others whose lives have been impacted by rape or sexual assault. And, remember to Start By Believing when it comes to listening to or supporting a victim or survivor of rape or sexual assault; because we all know someone whose life has been impacted by rape or sexual assault. Here are some links and email addresses I would appreciate you taking a look at, and consider leaving a message! Thank you for your support of Sexual Assault Survivor Stories, the SASS podcast! https://ErikaShershunTherapy.com @erikashershun https://markel-consulting.com https://startbybelieving.org https://evawintl.org https://safeinharmsway.org https://thejanbrobergfoundation.org davemarkel@gmail.com