Who is it for?

For the survivors of childhood sexual assault. For the survivors of child abuse. For the survivors of narcissistic abuse. For the survivors of workplace abuse. For the survivors of sexual abuse. For the survivors of coercive control. For the survivors of intimate partner violence. For ANY person who has survived the impacts of trauma— especially trauma over time.

This is where we build trust and safety and community. It’s a place where we openly trash abusers (F*CK YOU CHRIS BROWN!) We know where the safe places in the city are… We know which businesses align with the same ethics. We don’t patron businesses that employ known abusers and we spread the word when we need to. It’s for those who have ever questioned… “is this a red flag?” It’s for those who feel the weight of their trauma whenever they feel vulnerable. It’s for those who need to build safe relationships and for those who are in unsafe ones. Do you need help leaving? Do you need help finding the courage to move forward? This space is for you.

Basically, if you’ve survived any horrors you belong here. This stuff is HEAVY. Feel alone? You’re not. I got you. Feel embarrassed? Don’t. I got you. Feel scared? It’s okay. I got you. I want this place to be a network for those who really need it. Even if you THINK you may need help but you’re scared to ask for it… I want you to be able to interact with this network on all levels… so it’s supporting people who haven’t even asked for support yet.

Now to noodle on how to make this network happen…

Clear eyes… full hearts… f*ck chris brown <3

What could it be?

What can it be? What’s this things potential? It’s truly not hubris when I say I think this thing can be big… because nobody gives a rats ass about people who survive the pain of abuse. There’s a massive gap in the world of trauma therapy. Firstly, its expensive. Yeah that little light bar they use to help process traumatic memories, costs a cool three hundo. The trainings that certify us to treat trauma? THOUSANDS. So affordability is really a place to focus. Now that creates a problem… since this world is expensive to live in, I can’t provide everybody with cheap therapy. I need to eat and keep a roof over my cats heads, so what the hell do I do? Take insurance? Well no… I’m not trying to sell my soul to an insurance company that is only gonna give me $60 for a session. I’d rather solve this problem creatively…

Okay so here’s my thought. I have a nonprofit that I registered in my last year of school. I did it because at the time I had an inkling that I was going to want to start one. I watched insurance fail to pay therapists over and over and over and over. I watched bosses work therapists to the bone. I watched people charge clients hundreds of dollars for care that was NECESSARY. Nobody chooses to be a survivor of something horrific. This care is needed and nobody wants to make it accessible. So I’m gonna fund this therapy with donations and grants.

For starters, I can do this because I myself am insane. I am delusional enough to believe I’m gonna do this and succeed. Also I happen to have set myself up quite nicely. Ya see when I was an undergraduate student I decided to apply for some crazy writing program that teaches you how to write professionally. So I learned how to grant write… and I applied for grants for various businesses and nonprofits… and I got those grants for those people. So I got that goin for me.

Also I have a giant studio with my best friend and business partner. She’s a yoga teacher! So we got a yoga teacher! Also that woman loves a fundraiser so there’s that.

Finally… what do I want this nonprofit to do? Well it’s gonna be a trauma survivor network. It’s going to be a place you can go to find therapy, doctors, psychiatry, community support, businesses, etc. All of these things must align with the ethics of trauma awareness and trauma-focused care.

So if you need to know a safe place to get therapy, medical attention, hell even a tattoo… you can go to our network/directory and find one.

Alright let’s watch me turn this into a reality

* cracks knuckles *

The Moonflower Project

Welcome to the little corner of my business where I tell you all about my funky ideas and dreams for this practice. Yeah that’s right… Alex has thoughts, hopes, dreams, opinions, and ideas on how to actually make her community a better place.

So here’s the rough idea… I provide my discounted trauma therapy for survivors of complex trauma WHILE ALSO paying myself and any other person who works here what they are worth. But Alex, you all say in unison, how is that possible in our current capitalist country that has a billion dollar insurance industry?? By making this entire endeavor a massive undertaking that also involves me also starting a nonprofit.

Fundraising, grant writing, and being knee deep in community action. All the things ya girl Alex loves with her whole heart and soul. Seriously I was built to make this thing really big and really cool. I’m a workaholic in the funnest way possible.

Do I have a lot of money to make this happen? NO. But will I bite off more than I can chew and figure out how to chew it? Always.

Stay tuned to watch me turn this glorious and shiny new practice into an empire that gives back.