What do you do when justice and closure never come? In this episode of Beauty in the Brokenness, trauma therapist and author Lisa Saruga shares her powerful story of surviving violent trauma, the reopening of her cold case decades later, and how God’s goodness is not dependent on justice or resolution. Together, we explore trauma healing, PTSD vs. PTSI, post-traumatic growth, and how Scripture anchors us when life remains unresolved. A hope-filled conversation for anyone navigating trauma, faith, and healing.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

We Discuss:
• Lisa’s assault, the reopened cold case, and the denial of justice
• A shocking statistic about rapists
• Big T and little t trauma
•The Scripture that anchors Lisa in the absence of justice
• Real coping strategies versus numbing
• The distinction between PTSD and PTSI
• Five signs of post‑traumatic growth

More about Lisa:
Lisa Saruga is a licensed professional counselor, EMDR trauma therapist, speaker, and author. She’s certified as a legal and ethical specialist by the American School Counselor Association. Lisa’s advocacy extends to legislative efforts for survivor justice and her impactful contributions as a writer, notably in Carolyn B. Stone’s Ethics and Law: School Counseling Principles. Her debut book, The Trauma Tree, signifies a new chapter in her commitment to empowering others, marking her as a prominent voice in the field. Find her at lisasaruga.com.

Connect with Lisa:
Website lisasaruga.com
Book: The Trauma Tree: Going Beyond Survival, Growing Toward Wholeness
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaSarugaAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisasaruga/

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Music: Home (Inspirational And Uplifting Acoustic Guitar) by Daniel Carrizalez
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