Barbie Liss- Love Is How You Heal

Indeed. Love is how you heal.

When something inexplicable and terrible happens to you or a loved one, how do you heal from it? Is it through retribution, in exacting revenge? The world would have us believe so. As an instrument of the world and our societies, our criminal justice systems believe so, too.

But does retribution bring lasting healing? Really, truly, does it? If you answered no, rest assured that there is another way: Love.

Quite simply, love is how you heal. Nothing else will work.

Barbie Liss, my guest on this very special episode of Decide to Transform, recently had a direct experience of the healing power of love, and graciously shares her journey with us.

In 2016, Barbie's daughter was raped. At the time, she was 21. The prosecution of the perpetrator went through pretrial in the traditional judicial system, and of curse the process was brutal.

After the pretrial, Barbie's daughter did something unusual: pursuant to an often-overlooked Canadian law, she asked that the legal case be handled through Restorative Justice rather than the conventional system. This took time to get approved by the court, as this was the first known case in all of North America where Restorative Justice was called for post-rape.

To provide a bit of context, a Restorative Justice solution calls for the perpetrator of a crime to be "restored," i.e. not punished by conventional methods. In court systems across the United States and Canada, Restorative Justice is available and quite common in some cases, such as juvenile court matters. It is highly uncommon--and at the time unheard of--as a solution for violent offenses such as rape.

Do not think for a moment, however, that the perpetrator was let off easy. After many months of court-ordered therapy and a declaration by the therapist that he was ready, the perpetrator, Barbie's daughter, and Barbie herself participated in an 8-hour healing circle in which each participant got a turn to speak uninterrupted, and the perpetrator had to listen to the impact his actions had on everyone present. Then, he had to accept responsibility.

Barbie's description of the healing circle is powerful. Also very powerful is her description of her own journey as a mother. She raises an important question for all of us: who is supporting the supporter? What happens when the supporter needs her own time and space to grieve? 

In this hard-hitting episode, Barbie answers these questions for us and shares the work that she now does to help heal deep, often generational wounds. Through all of it, we cannot escape the conclusion that love is how you heal. 

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Barbie Liss has a B.A. in Psychology, is a Certified Life Coach, Reiki & Energy Healer and a Retreat Facilitator. She is a Speaker and Advocate for Restorative Justice and all things Human.

Barbie has traveled the path of Life and Motherhood from typical to not-at-all typical experiences. Her life-altering experience and healing journey following her daughter's rape, and their ultimate Restorative Justice outcome, led Barbie to the path she walks today. In healing inward, Barbie found the call for healing outward.

As a Maternal Empowerment Coach, heart-centered Wise Woman and Healer, Barbie offers a safe and love-filled space to guide in healing Generational Wounds and Societal messages that impact life. She helps cast aside fears and limiting beliefs as she walks with you on your path to reclaim your truest version of YOU!

barbieliss.com

barbie@barbieliss.com

Instagram: @_barbieliss

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