Ep.54: Fired Up: Confronting and Healing from Sexual Abuse with Alreen Haeggquist

Insights from the Couch - Mental Health at Midlife

This week on Insights From the Couch, we sit down with the powerhouse attorney, author, and survivor, Alreen Haeggquist. From her deeply personal story of growing up in an abusive household to becoming a leading legal advocate for survivors of sexual harassment and assault, Alreen’s journey is a testament to the strength of the human spirit—and the power of owning your story.

We explore the long path from trauma to triumph, what it really takes to heal, and how acknowledging the past is the first step toward freedom. Alreen shares how inner child work, therapy, and using her voice not only helped her reclaim her own life but gave her the fuel to fight for others. This conversation is vulnerable, honest, and full of insight for anyone on a healing path—or supporting someone who is.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] - Welcoming Alreen and an intro to her mission and groundbreaking legal work.
[2:04] - Alreen’s early life: arranged marriage, family dynamics, and migration.
[5:08] - The many forms of survival: escaping abuse through education and independence.
[6:26] - Why bullying at school was more bearable than life at home.
[8:29] - The breaking point: rage, motherhood, and the moment of awakening.
[11:17] - Alreen’s first steps into therapy and realizing healing takes more than four sessions.
[12:45] - A pivotal psychodrama experience: naming the abuse for the first time.
[16:08] - The power of vulnerability and why speaking out matters.
[18:30] - Connecting trauma to physical health and emotional wellbeing.
[21:13] - Learning to feel again: inner child work and the journey back to the heart.
[25:18] - Bringing personal experience into the courtroom to empower survivors.
[26:33] - Breaking down sexual assault civil cases and how justice is pursued.
[28:39] - Advocacy in action: educating teens and holding institutions accountable.
[31:37] - Teaching kids to trust their gut and speak up.
[34:28] - The first step to healing: acknowledge it happened and write it down.
[35:58] - The complex family fallout of telling the truth.
[39:45] - Secrets and silence vs. truth and generational healing.
[42:58] - Why acknowledging abuse isn’t rare—it’s revolutionary.

Resources:

📚 Fired Up: Fueling Triumph From Trauma by Alreen Haeggquist — available on Amazon
🌐 Learn more about Alreen’s work and book at www.alreen.com

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