Getting Past Survivor

Finally Be The Real You

There comes a point when surviving just isn’t enough.

You’ve made it through the worst—but life still feels like a holding pattern. You’re not falling apart, but you’re not thriving either. That quiet sense that something more is possible? It’s not wishful thinking. It’s truth. And it’s what this space is all about.

Getting Past Survivor was born from that very moment—when I realized I was no longer in crisis, but far from feeling whole. I’d lived through childhood abuse, relentless bullying, and a marriage that drained me. I had done a lot of healing — but something was still missing. And deep down, I knew something better was possible. So I went looking for it.

In the years that followed, my healing was tested in ways I couldn’t have predicted—especially when I lost the love of my life at 54. It was another kind of survival. But even through that grief, the work I’d done helped me keep going. And now, I help others do the same.

This space is a blend of blog and voice. Every post can be read, and many include audio so you can listen right here or on my podcast. Take in the words however they land best for you.

You’ll find:
🧠 Brain-based tools—NLP, hypnosis, and unconscious rewiring that actually work
❤️‍🩹 Real talk on grief, growth, and healing (the non-linear kind)
🌱 The messy, beautiful journey to becoming you again
💬 Support from someone who gets it—not to fix you, but to walk with you

If you feel like there’s something beyond the pain—even if you can’t name it yet—you’re right. And you don’t have to get there alone.

To read more about my story: The Reason for Getting Past Survivor

Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

It Happened *For* Me

In this post, I share a personal journey of transformation through life's hardest moments, from losing a job to the deeper pain of losing a loved one. It's a story of how these experiences have reshaped my understanding of the unconscious mind, leading to growth, resilience, and a newfound depth of empathy. Join me as we explore the hidden lessons in life's challenges.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

My Dad

As the strong, silent type and a devoted executive and family man, my dad dedicated himself to self-improvement and our family's well-being. He actively worked on his marriage and was a constant in our lives despite a demanding career. After his passing, I uncovered his deep-seated struggles through a letter about my childhood abuse. This revealed his inner conflict and regret for not protecting me more, shedding light on the complex emotional challenges men face in balancing societal strength with vulnerability. His journey deeply resonates with me, highlighting the intricate dance between masculinity and emotional openness.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

My Guest Appearance with Mollie Sommer

I recently joined Mollie Sommer's podcast to discuss my journey of self-discovery and resilience, emphasizing the rediscovering a love for learning, transformation, positive decision-making, finding joy and self-expression through dance, exploring alternative change modalities like NLP and hypnosis, and truly go through the journey of Getting Past Survivor.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Empowering Questions

Every day we have decisions, questions, quandaries, dilemmas to figure out, understand. Here are some questions that can help enlighten the process.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Turning to Belief

Imagine this: a battle within, one part cheering, "You deserve the best!" The other whispers, "No, you don't.” You try to believe, to break free from doubts. Looking back, you long for that confident step into a fulfilled life.

Ever notice resistance holding you back? What if you could let it go, embracing your truth and transforming your life?

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Bringing Child Sexual Abuse Out of the Shadows

Many parents avoid discussing sexual abuse prevention with kids, believing it won't happen or that kids will tell them. But statistics show 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are victims before 18, mostly by people they know and trust. We must confront these misconceptions and normalize empowering, age-appropriate education on body safety and consent. Open communication dispels myths, keeps kids safe, and takes this issue out of the shadows. Here are 10 reasons why adults don’t talk about childhood sexual abuse.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Group Healing: The Vicarious Experience and the Unconscious Mind

Dive into the world of group healing and discover how our senses play a massive role in our experiences. Ever felt a story resonate so deeply you thought it was yours? This piece unpacks why that happens and how to navigate these sessions without getting lost. With personal insights from a seasoned facilitator, you'll learn to harness the power of your senses for a more genuine healing journey.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Tune Into the Unconscious Mind

The next time you experience a vivid dream, a sudden memory, or a strong gut feeling, don't push it away.

Welcome it. Sit with it. Understand it.

These sensory experiences are like messengers, bringing forth insights from the depths of your unconscious mind. Learn more about how to connect more deeply with yourself.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Listen to CSA Survivors

In this blog post, I shine a spotlight on a critical message: The significance of listening to survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Join me as I emphasize the importance of providing survivors with a safe space to share their stories. By lending an empathetic ear and validating their experiences, we can help survivors heal and contribute to a more compassionate society.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

What Propels You?

This blog post explores two mindsets: "go-getter" (enthusiastic and goal-oriented - moving towards) and "avoider" (cautious and problem-focused - moving away from). Let’s talk about the importance of language patterns in shaping our reality and encourage a balanced communication style that considers both pursuing goals and addressing challenges.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Self-Reflection

Nagging feelings like emptiness, fear, and overwhelm are signals from our unconscious mind, urging us to explore and understand ourselves better. Through self-reflection, we can decode the messages behind these feelings and make positive changes in our lives.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Communication

Creating, welcoming, accepting communication is desperately needed as a foundation of being human - a healthy human. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, rape, bullying, and abuse are all taught to keep their mouths shut. The perpetrators NEED our silence in order to survive. Because of the nature of abuse, we comply as best as we can. As a mom I was determined to protect my kids, and creating open communication was paramount in that. Here’s another step in my journey of Getting Past Survivor so my kids don’t have to.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

The Family Dinner

When my children were growing up, our dinner table was a special place. Each night, one of them would be the moderator, asking questions that brought us closer together. We shared the best and worst parts of our day, what made us laugh and cry, something we learned, and our favorite memory. These conversations created a bond that will forever be cherished.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

You’ve Got To Want To Succeed

You’ve heard of the fear of success, but what about the benefits of not succeeding? Looking back at your life, where did holding yourself back actually seem beneficial to your unconscious mind? The unconscious mind is there to serve you, but all too often it has the wrong idea. In this case, for me, it was all about changing my mindset to embrace that as much as I held myself back, I truly did want to succeed.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Uncover the Hidden

Over the last few years I had resolved so many things but didn't recognize that there was a part of me that was still needing to be addressed, cleared, resolved, loved, and that was my 7-8 year old who had to leave Belgium, had to leave the life where she finally had her first friends, first real relationships.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Hope

What does hope mean to you? How does it show up in your life, in your healing journey? Do you have hope for yourself? I didn’t for a long time, even though I was determined to find it. And when I did find it, I found me.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

You Have to Move…Immediately

What do you do when your home life is turned upside unexpectedly? How do you react within when you learn that you have 3 weeks to move everything you and your 3 children own? It was chaos, but I didn’t feel it in my body. Rather than panic, my brain was in control in a way that was calm and focused on solutions. How do you want your brain to respond in times of chaos?

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

Positive Affirmations???

Have you ever repeatedly spoken positive affirmations or written them out over and over only to find you just don't feel much different? That's because it's all in your head. In this blog I briefly explain why this happens and what you can do to adopt the positive attitude you want.

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Helen Brenner Helen Brenner

When Change Feels Like Moving to a Foreign Country

Change can feel like moving to a foreign country. Not knowing the language, the customs, the culture can be daunting, but support such as a translator or tour guide can make the transition less overwhelming. You can find similar support to be helpful when making internal changes like learning your own intuition and understanding your view of the world. Hiring a guide or travel agent in this inner journey can make huge differences in how well you navigate your internal change.

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