S1, Ep. 7 - Steve Peacock: sexual assault survivor and advocate

Welcome back to the Say More Podcast! In this episode, Sarah Ozycz, MS, LMFT is joined by an inspiring guest, sexual assault survivor and advocate, Steve Peacock. Steve shares his story as a childhood sexual assault survivor, and how this experience shaped his sense of self and his own mental health. Steve bravely disclosed, in his 20's and in his 50's, what was done to him. He details a connection with a sexual assault survivor advocate which propelled him in to advocacy and public speaking, with the goal to both educate others and empower survivors. We explore the importance of sexual violence education, male advocacy, and resources for both adults and children. You won't want to miss Steve's powerful story of strength, resilience and hope. Book Steve discusses is titled "You Throw Like a Girl: The Blind Spot of Masculinity", authored by Don McPherson. Book Sarah discusses is titled "Let's Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect", authored by Jayneen Sanders. Trigger warning: general themes of childhood sexual violence and child sexual abuse statistics are discussed.Host Bio: Sarah Ozycz, MS, LMFT is an independently licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Massachusetts with 15 years’ experience in the field of behavioral health. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut in Human Development and Family Studies, and a master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire in Marriage and Family Therapy. She completed a clinical internship with Concord Hospital Family Health Center Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency program during graduate school, and interned with the Child Life department at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary during her undergraduate career. Additionally, Sarah was a graduate assistant for the TRIO McNair Scholars Program at UNH, supporting traditionally underrepresented students in higher education preparing to enter a Ph.D. program.For the past decade, she worked for a Fortune 20 managed care company supporting more than 2 million Massachusetts Medicaid members, and a network of large public health systems, to improve clinical and quality outcomes.  Prior to her work in managed care, Sarah supported individuals, couples and families on the North Shore who struggled with mental health and substance use as both a clinician and a substance use group facilitator. Sarah is a strong advocate for behavioral health, health equity and improving access to care for all who need it.Disclaimer: Although Sarah Ozycz is an independently licensed clinician in Massachusetts, the content of this podcast is not professional advice and should not be used as a substitute for therapy or mental health treatment. These conversations are intended to destigmatize behavioral health, foster connection, and reflect Sarah’s personal perspectives and opinions. If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or are in immediate distress, please contact emergency services/911 or go to your nearest emergency roomMusic licensed through Soundstripe. Code: UTFPLMCCYF2CINGV