In conversation with Dassi and Dassi on the journey from religious trauma through the healing learnings of nature.
Through our personal stories, we will explore the impact of religious trauma on our sense of well-being, autonomy, identity; gender, sexuality and place in the world. Raised within a fundamentalist religious community with rigid doctrine we grew up with rules that governed not only our actions but the very essence of our being.
Along the way, we will offer insight into what religious trauma is, how it manifests - through fear, shame, guilt, dissociation, and loss of self - and what signs to look for in those around you, in your personal and/or professional life.
This is a story of deep wounding and also a story of healing, of finding refuge in nature, where Country does not judge, but holds.
Join us as we share how embracing the rhythms of nature and the gifts within allowed us to find our place in the world, not as who we were told to be, but as who we truly are.
Dassi Herszberg & Dassi Erlich
she/her
Dassi Erlich: Advocate, Survivor, and Justice Campaigner
Dassi Erlich is a high-profile lobbyist, justice campaigner, and advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. Her memoir, In Bad Faith: Inside a Secret Ultra-Orthodox Sect and the Brutal Betrayal It Tried to Hide, chronicles her harrowing journey from a strict ultra-Orthodox upbringing to her fight for justice against the betrayal of the revered school principal Malka Leifer.
Dassi now works with Pathways Melbourne, an organization that supports people transitioning away from or questioning religious lifestyle. As the Youth and Family Programs Manager, she focuses on opening the organization to teens and expanding its reach and support for younger individuals. Dassi continues to share her story to shed light on abuse, mental health, and the importance of justice for survivors.
Dassi Herszberg: Transpersonal Art Therapist, Counsellor, and Outdoor Health Practitioner
Dassi Herszberg is a transpersonal art therapist and counsellor, as well as an outdoor health practitioner, with over 15 years of experience. She runs therapeutic programs primarily in outdoor spaces, using the combination of both her professional expertise and personal experience.
Dassi has run many professional development courses for the Bouverie Centre. She is a member of the Subcommittee on Yalukit Willum Nature Associations, an Advisory Board member for Pathways Melbourne, and a Board Member of Outdoor Health Australia. She also worked with the Drummond Street Services Co-Design Program.
Her work now integrates adventure therapy, art therapy processes outdoors, and self-exploration in nature, helping individuals reconnect, discover themselves, and heal through the intersection of self and country.