We were lucky to catch up with Amy Carpenter recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
I’ve been a psychotherapist for more than twenty years, primarily working in the field of trauma and recovery. When my 17 year-old daughter was sexually assaulted it turned the tables on my approach to trauma work. I realized I had spent my entire career responding to trauma and it was time to do something to try and prevent it. That was when I started working on the Be Strong, Be Wise book series that is now also an evidence-based curriculum being offered in schools.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Im a trauma expert, youth advocate and relationship coach with decades of counseling experience. I developed the two books in the bestselling Be Strong, Be Wise series after my daughter was assaulted. Ive spent the past five years committed to the cause of assault prevention and education for teens.
Be Strong, Be Wise has now been implemented into the health curriculum of several schools and we are seeing phenomenal results.
Our course provides a pathway to help teens explore sexual ethics and assault prevention through the lens of personal empowerment. We help students build self-knowledge through our 5 Safety Tools. These tools increase confidence and decrease risk by giving students a way to identify red flag signals, how to communicate boundaries, how to use substances wisely, how to understand consent, how to keep each other safe when out for an evening and so much more!
Our biggest accomplishment has been witnessing the schools we’ve worked with experience a lowering of sexual misconduct school-wide. These schools have also seen an increase in faculty and student proactivity focused on prevention versus reaction.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Patience and determination. Sexual assault is a taboo subject people have a great deal of difficulty discussing effectively. Schools are conditioned to focus on things like aptitude tests and college prep. But because sexual assault and harassment are most likely to occur among teens (according to the Department of Education) and often takes place at school, the CDC is calling on schools to take action. But this doesn’t mean that schools are prepared or have the resources and training to meet the needs of students when it comes to the subject of sexual ethics. The schools we’ve partnered with have shown tremendous commitment in working with the tools that BSBW offers, and the results have been outstanding.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
As a psychotherapist and trauma expert, one of my mandates has always been to “meet the client where they are at.” As an educator and youth advocate that doesn’t work, however. Most people (parents, counselors, teachers and Admin) I talk to feel pretty uncomfortable discussing sexual safety education for teens. Ive learned I have to be “Lead Mare” and show up as a decisive, compassionate but strong leader who is able to offer support and direction and not align with fear. This has offered my clients (schools) the ability to trust in a tested curriculum, and in my own confidence that it works.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bestrongbewise.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bestrong_bewise/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeStrongBeWise
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-carpenter-982b96148/
Image Credits
Duane Alan