Project Empowerment - Renee Branson Yung

Renee Branson Yung is a psychotherapist and gender rights activist. Since 1996, Renee has worked with empowering women through her role as a public high school teacher and as a therapist in a domestic violence shelter and community counseling center. Currently, she consults with non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) and non-profit organizations on the issue of secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue. Aid workers who are in daily contact with survivors of torture, suffering and other trauma are at risk for becoming traumatized themselves. Indeed, secondary traumatic stress can be as debilitating as primary PTSD. This work will take her to Cambodia in the summer of 2010 to work with Transitions Global, an organization that rehabilitates survivors of sexual slavery. Renee will work with staff and volunteers to help build their resilience to extreme stress. This, in turn, ensures ideal care of the survivor. Renee has worked with girls and women on issues ranging from eating disorders, child abuse, domestic violence, rape and torture. At the root of each issue, she believes that empowering women to act on their own behalf is the first step in wellness. Renee is also passionate in the belief that every person has the power to be an activist. The key to starting a life of advocacy and activism is being willing to LEARN and DO at the same time. Renee has a BS in Secondary Education from The Ohio State University and a MA in Counseling Psychology from the University of Colorado. She is also a proud mother of three boys, an avid runner and a lover of travel. http://lotusjourneys.blogspot.com/