I am. . .

…a little girl who loved books in a huge east-facing bedroom with four massive windows.

Who went to boarding school, college and a career in hospitality and customer service. Which led to a chance encounter with a (vrrom, vroom!) race car driver and his company. After a few years there, onto corporate America and the first job that taught her to write.

Later, the small business world of coaching (and blogging) in the early 2000s with and side hustles in sales at a tea company, event planning and the retail sales in a lifestyle store, hidden in New York’s Hudson Valley. Back to school ate age 35 for a graduate degree and time as an overnight volunteer for a domestic violence agency’s crisis line. Then many years working with abuse survivors and in abuse education.

Until the Fall of 2022 when I took my first writing class since high school. And I started taking seriously my need to turn letters into language into story.

What influences me?

Training through Co-Active Training Institute. After which, I spent six years working as a life coach. I offered 1-1 coaching and group workshop, creating and facilitating two personal growth workshops: Awaken Your Passion and Uncommon Confidence. As well as: group coaching, corporate & group custom programming and public speaking. One of my long-term contract projects was with a non-profit agency for whom I facilitated self-esteem building programs and provided interim in-house counseling services as needed.

My background as a trauma educator, researcher and lay counselor. I have worked with inter-personal trauma survivors for almost 20 years, first as a volunteer on an overnight hotline. As paid staff, I’ve trained hundreds of community professionals on abuse dynamics and active listening. (While at the same time, training community volunteers for a 24 hr hotline and in-office client support.) I have been trained by Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus, authors of “When Survivors Give Birth” (WSGB) and am one of only eight professionals worldwide who are certified to use the WSGB name in trainings and talks. From 2013-2021, I offered trauma-informed continuing ed trainings on the long-term affects of sexual abuse on reproductive and sexual health to clients like NC AHECs, Duke University School of Medicine, Lamaze and others. I also led survivor support groups (in agency and independently) for five years.

A Masters of Arts degree in Women’s Studies. One of the things this means for me is that I take a broad view at how “interlocking systems of domination” come together. Think: patriarchy, white supremacy, capitalism. You’re never “just” a person doing stuff. You’re a human being whose identity is made of up of things like race, language, ability, sexuality and much more. All of that influences what you think and do as well as how and what you communicate.

I have also trained as a postpartum doula through DONA International and a childbirth educator through Lamaze.

What do others say?

“You are really good, Elizabeth, at distilling complex ideas down, making them practical, and engaging with people around those ideas.”

"When I hear myself talking to kids, I find myself talking and listening like you showed me. Thanks for modeling that for me and making me a better person, specifically a better communicator, a person who sticks up for herself and demands that others do the same. Empowerment is your middle name."

"Knowing women like you, Elizabeth, who are gracious, and passionate and strong has helped me to not only feel less alone in the world but also see the variety of ways people do show up for others.”

What do I believe?

Everyone is a trauma survivor.

Forgiveness is overrated.

Community is everything. No one is free until we are all free.

Kindness matters.

The fun stuff?

I love bright colors, clothes and sparkle. I’m a sucker for Haribo gummies and homemade scones. Beach over mountains. Rescue dog fan. Gen X. Terrific with names. Typewriter fan and lover of vintage. Heels over clogs. Books (or food) are my love language.

In the early days of the pandemic I co-hosted a time-limited feminist podcast that looked at the "wow" & "how" of a life rooted in curiosity, community and liberation. A passion project for the fabulous Larissa Parson and myself! Wondermine archived episodes are available wherever you find your podcasts or head here.

Want to learn more?

Subscribe to my newsletter, Ripe Time, below or follow on your favorite social (just not Twitter anymore!) @EMJWriting.

(* Kimberlé Crenshaw for her work around intersectionality which influences my work.
”interlocking systems of oppression” is the brilliant bell hooks’ language. See more here.)