Barbara Joy Joy Hansen

I attribute my success to a lifelong commitment to giving voice to those who have suffered in silence. Rather than allowing my own history of abuse to define me, I chose to transform it into a mission of healing, hope, and restoration for others who have faced sexual abuse, domestic violence, and complex trauma. My path as a survivor became the foundation for the work I do today as an author, advocate, and certified life coach.

I became empowered to live beyond abuse when the key to my inner healing began as a result of coming face to face with the clergy who long ago had sexually traumatized me at a summer youth camp. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but necessary to my soul healing. I contacted my childhood denomination with a childhood friend who had been violated by the same pastor as a little girl. No stone was unturned as a committee of discipline was formed for the perpetrator who was dealt with severely & quickly. He was charged with six counts of severe psychological abuse & his ministerial license was revoked.

A committee of restoration was formed by eight clergy for me and three other adult women friends of mine he had molested. This was the turning point of my life when I chose to forgive him as the shame slowly began to be released, I had been carrying for decades. Seven weeks later I received a phone call from the head of the committee telling me he had fallen down the stair and broken his back and died which I've documented in my memoir/honest book, Listen to the Cry of the Child: The Deafening Silence of Abuse.

The best career advice I have received is to be yourself with what you have accomplished, embrace your achievements and give back to those who need to hear your voice. I've been told to be a risk taker and become UNSTOPPABLE! Long ago, my mother, who wasn't yet aware of my secrets told me that I would someday speak and help women. Her wise council helped me begin to start believing in myself. As I began to devour countless books on addictions, I was inspired with hope and courage to seek approval from God rather than from others who may not understand what happened to me. I began to not only heal emotionally but was renewed spiritually as well, because a mental and emotional death had taken place as I've moved from victim to a victorious survivor/thriver returning to a happier life with a passionate God given purpose.

I encourage anyone entering this field to view personal adversity not as a limitation, but as a source of purpose, allowing lived experience to shape a mission of service to others. I've found that there is real power in telling your own story; writing about my past not only helped me process my trauma but also became a tool to raise awareness and offer hope to others. I believe deeply that lived experience is a legitimate and powerful qualification in itself, one that can equip a person to lead and support others with authenticity even without extensive formal training. At the same time, I remind others that healing is not a single event but an ongoing journey, one that continues well beyond the first moments of confronting the past. Above all, I encourage others to build community, because creating safe spaces where people can heal together is essential to lasting recovery.

One of the greatest challenges I have faced has been turning my own experience of childhood sexual abuse and trauma into a genuine source of hope for others. Choosing to confront my abuser directly was among the most difficult decisions of my life, but it proved to be a defining step in my own healing, and it opened the door to honest, restorative conversations within my own family. Professionally, advocating for survivors often means addressing subjects that many people would rather avoid, and building the trust needed to help others move beyond fear and shame requires ongoing perseverance, compassion, and faith. Every one of these challenges has only strengthened my resolve to ensure survivors know they are not alone.

Collaboration and service are central to how I live out my values; I'm honored to work alongside organizations dedicated to protecting vulnerable individuals and promoting healing, and I've used opportunities such as media appearances to bring greater awareness to issues that too often remain hidden. At the heart of everything I do is an unwavering sense of purpose: helping survivors move beyond victimhood, embrace healing, and discover renewal even after life's deepest pain and hardships. I hold firmly to the belief that our stories carry the power to change lives, and that speaking the truth with courage can become a source of hope for someone still searching for their own.