Our Impact: Survivor Experiences
Anonymous
“Despite having access to a wide variety of healing modalities and interventions, an amazing and outrageously supportive family and community, and a richness and depth of personal and professional resourcing, knowledge, and awareness; I was beyond a point of despair prior to going on the Logos trip. Thoughts of suicide and death pressed upon me daily. I did not want to die; but the heaviness from the violence and horror of the exploitation I experienced, was quite literally sucking the life out of me.
In the weeks leading up to the trip, my day to day life was reduced to making small, hourly goals to just stay alive. Friends and family were committed to spending time with me to help me move through the next hour or moment and into the next. When not with my loved ones, I was putting miles and miles and miles under my feet by running, hiking, moving in an effort to release the despair into the ground beneath me. I had little hope for great change in spending less than a week unplugged and sleeping on the ground; but my desperation for connection, camaraderie, care, and relief drove me to try, to risk, to hope just a little bit.
I do not understand the totality of what happened in those six days in the mountains. However, I believe a combination of the outdoors, an opportunity to just be, the physical challenges and choices, the emotional support, and the professional and therapeutic guidance allowed for more dramatic shifts and changes in me than any other therapeutic modality I had previously experienced. For the first time in years, I have felt like myself; strong, peaceful, connected, able to manage my story and the hardships that accompany it, clear headed, purposeful. The time away didn’t change my story, it doesn’t change the torture that I experienced, but it did allow me to draw in a deep breath, gain perspective, and provided a much needed reset to my body, mind, and soul.”
Angie
"This experience has changed my life for the better. Made me realize my body isn’t broken that they didn’t take everything from me back then. That I can dig down deep and do hard things and be proud of how far I’ve come and looking forward to continue pushing myself harder in these wilderness experiences. I carry all the strength from out there daily".
Jenna
“I learned and grew from the entire trip. The most memorable and life changing moment was climbing to the peak. I processed so much as I had flashbacks while working through the mental and physical pain. To push through it and make it to the top was the best metaphor for my whole life. I loved leaving the rock at the top with all my worries. I felt and continue to feel lighter. More free. More grateful.”
Shirley
“I definitely would recommend this trip to any survivor. The healing begins on the inside. The atmosphere along with the help that is provided is exceptional. Every part of this trip was beyond any expectation that I had. My relationship with myself, my friends and especially with my God grew. Thank you LOGOS. My heart is full of GRATITUDE. This was a life changing experience.”
Erin, Clinician at Rethreaded
“Partnering with Logos was such an amazing experience. From the first conversation to the last moment, every interaction was a breath of fresh air and filled with love. As someone who has worked with multiple programs it was refreshing to encounter an organization that is showing up for individuals with love and providing excellent programming. I would highly recommend anyone to work with Logos or go on one of their trips.”
Jaimie
“I had a major decrease in trauma symptoms. I was experiencing emotional and relational disturbances quite frequently prior to the trip. I was having suicidal ideation and feeling very hopeless about my mom's health and guilty about finding a balance of taking care of myself. I had difficulty talking or seeing my mom to the point of being avoidant unless communication was absolutely necessary. I was able to work through a lot of those emotions. I can now spend quality time with mom and enjoy time with her and be a better caretaker and better take care of myself."
Anonymous
"The experience of getting away from normal life and being able to fully breathe is so healing... those few days regulated my system and I felt so much at peace. Not only this, I feel more connected to both myself, as well as more survivors, which is also healing. This was a great experience, and I'm so happy I went."
Corina
“I feel like I could write a book about my experience on this trip. It's hard to even pick one. When we first arrived and they dispersed our gear and we backpacked to the camp, my backpack was so heavy and it began pouring rain. I was scared and overwhelmed by the weight of my backpack. As I continued to walk I heard God speak to me about the weight I was carrying. "He said do you feel all the weight you are carrying, that's all the weight you have been carrying all these years, He said you don't need to carry those burdens anymore, give them me I will carry this weight for you." I cried at how amazing God is. Another experience was when we hiked up Medicine Bow. The whole way up, I could hear all the lies I've been told all my life. How worthless I am, how I will never amount to anything, how I will never change, how I can't make it. I even caught myself saying several times that I couldn't make it up to the top. When I got to the snow, something came over me and I went fast, I felt like I was running from the lies. I got to the top and I cried for a long time. They were tears of joy, tears of disbelief that I did it, tears of shedding the lies that were spoken over me all my life. I will never believe again that I can't do something. I am a warrior! I could go on and on."
Meagan
“Chelsea and Jess shared their stories of how they came to found Logos and their big dream looked like. Chelsea then explained some of the "why" - the science behind healing and the critical component that nature is in that process. In that moment, I was in awe of their thoughtfulness and dedication to their work, and I want now more than anything to see these trips accessible to all survivors who would like to participate.”
Andria
“This trip has been one of the most impactful experiences in my recovery. I was able to feel safe and open up. All the small things were thought of. I would highly recommend this trip to other survivors. Also this is an amazing group it would be an honor for anyone to partner with Logos in anyway.”
Angie
“I had no idea that the LOGOs staff invested so much of themselves to ensure survivors would be treated with such genuine respect. Not from a place of pity but with intentional supports and safe space to work out the healing. They are compassionate, invested and authentically motivated to support healing in the lives of others. Forever grateful for spending that time with you all."
Anonymous
“The trip challenged me on all levels. The opportunity to be brave helped me on so many levels. I never knew I was brave until this trip.”