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Conference Schedule

Sibling Sexual Trauma & Abuse: Breaking the Silence
June 23, 2026

Presented by 5WAVES, Inc.
Long Island University-Post Campus

full conference information here
Register Here

Conference Schedule
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Click on the session title for full description of presentation and presenter bio.

All events in LIU-Post, Hillwood Commons, unless otherwise indicated.

​​8:15-9:00 Lobby  Arrival & Registration

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9:00-9:15 Theater  Welcome & Opening Remarks: Jane Epstein, 5WAVES Cofounders & Conference Planners

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9:15-10:15 Theater  Keynote Speech: Telling Our Stories: Shaping Change Together  Risa Shaw, PhD 

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10:15-10:30 Lobby  Break

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10:30-12:00  Session I Breakouts 

 

I-A Theater

1. Reimagining Healing: What Thriving Looks Like for Survivors of Sibling Sexual Assault

Katelyn Bleigh

2. The Long Road: How a Survivor and Partner Learn, Stumble, and Grow Together

Heidi & Dave Yewman

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I-B Classroom TBA

1. Creciendo con Amor/Growing with Love

Lupita Najera

2. Panel: A Pivotal Moment: Experiences and Effects of Disclosure Reactions for Survivors

Risa Shaw (moderator), Aaron, Annie, Chase

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I-C Classroom TBA

1. Sibling Sexual Abuse: A Unique Intrafamilial Trauma

Tova Lewin, BA

2a. Framing Sibling Sexual Behavior for Frontline Workers

Maria Socolof, MS

2b. Bringing Together Research and Advocacy on All Forms of Sibling Abuse

Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, PhD and Leslie Abrons, LCSW 

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12:00-1:00  Fishbowl  Lunch Break

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1:00-2:30 Session II Breakouts 

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II-A Theater

1. Panel: The Mind-Body Connection: Healing the Somatic Effects of Sexual Trauma
Maria Socolof (moderator), Colleen, Claire

2. Reeling, Feeling, Healing

Chase Henry, Certified Peer Specialist

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II-B Classroom TBA

1a.  Sibling Sexual Abuse: The Silence, The Stigma, and a Survivor's Truth

Jean Donahue

1b. When a Shared Parent Dies: Another Layer of Pain, Another Layer of Healing

Katie Grant, MS, LCPC, LMHC, EMDR Approved Consultant

2. Finding Your Voice to Break the Silence

Lucy :) Inman

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II-C Classroom TBA

1. Panel: Caught in the Crossfire: Parental Voices on System Responses to SSTA
Brandy Black (moderator), Nikki, Jessica, Grace, Joseph

2. Navigating the Storm: Parents Supporting their Children & Healing After Sibling Sexual Trauma

Bridget Meranda, MSW, LCSW, RPT™

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2:30-3:00 Lobby   Break

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3:00-4:30 Session III Breakouts 

 

III-A Theater

1. Writing Narratives as a Healing Practice

Amanda Lee Brush

2. Panel: Transforming Pain into Prevention: Survivors' Pathways to Education & Advocacy

Diane Tarantini (moderator), Colleen, Kimberly, Shariea

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III-B Classroom TBA

1. Modern Day Forgiveness: Forgive for You, Not Them

Brinn Langdale, LMFT

2. Letting Go to Live Forward

Darlene Lekowski

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III-C Classroom TBA

1. Realities of Separation & Reunification in Sibling Sexual Abuse

Jacqueline (Jacque)  Page, Psy.D.

2. Speak Out for Hope: A Family's Story of Transformation 

S. Grace Wine, PhD, Joseph Wine, LPC, Katelyn Bleigh

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4:40-5:00 Theater  Closing Remarks & Call to Action​​​​​

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors!
(Interested in becoming a sponsor? Learn more here.)

Major Sponsors
NCP_logo_edited_edited_edited.png

Event Planning Sponsor

Marketing & PR Services

Cielo Consulting 

Premier Boutique PR Agency in NJ

Conference Wellness Sponsor

clinically proven tools and resources, empowering survivors and others  to protect, heal, and overcome

Seed Money Spark Sponsor

Anonymous, in honor of Risa Shaw and Not Child's Play

book, art, and more​

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Tell Your Story ASL-English Interpretation Sponsor

Cindy Darcy, in honor of her mother, Evelyn Darcy Grender

Coffee and Conversation Connection Sponsors

Tough Topics Mom I Said No! 

Healing and CPTSD 

a community for survivors by survivors

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Diane Tarantini, Everyone Was Silent

​Exhibit Table Sponsors​

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Shared Promo Table Sponsors​

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