Welcome to Lisa's Empowering Story: She Gets It!

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I understand the challenges you face because I've been where you are.

Having personally experienced the challenges and traumas associated with leaving the Jehovah's Witness organization, I am dedicated to helping others find healing, happiness, and fulfillment in their lives.

In the world of Jehovah's Witnesses, four main traumas leave lasting scars: 

shunning, blood transfusions, abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Regrettably, these four aspects have played a significant role in my own life and why I've dedicated the last 23 years in helping other exjws fully recover.

My family remain Jehovah's Witnesses, so yes, I know the pain and challenges of being shunned. 

From the moment I was born, I was immersed in the world of Jehovah's Witnesses as a third-generation member. Tragically, my father's refusal of a life-saving blood transfusion cost him his life when I was just two years old. He was the first in legal history. (Check out the newspapers clippings here). This event, coupled with the abuse I endured at the hands of a fellow Jehovah's Witness, created an unhappy & unsafe insecure environment within my own home.

At the age of 16, I made the courageous decision to run away, knowing that it was better to face the uncertainty of homelessness and life "in the world" than to remain in religious trauma and high control of the Jehovah's Witnesses. On my homeless journey, one day I found myself on the way to London. If  someone else had got hold of this vulnerable runaway, my life could of ended up very differently.  Thankfully, a compassionate "worldly" person stepped in and showed me some support like no other JW had ever done.  Once I'd got to a place of safety, I quickly secured employment and found an apartment.

At 22 years old, I met a man whom I believed to be kind and understanding. However, I soon discovered that his controlling nature surpassed even that of a Jehovah's Witness elder. Despite the challenges, we were married for 15 years and blessed with two beautiful daughters. 

When my first daughter was born, I lost a lot of blood.  The only way to stay alive was a blood transfusion. As a former Jehovah's Witness, I faced a challenging choice. My upbringing instilled in me the belief that accepting blood transfusions was forbidden. Heck, my father had even died for refusing a blood transfusion!

However, faced with a life-threatening situation, I listened to my instincts and chose to live to see my eldest daughter grow into the amazing woman she is today.  I'll never forget the wave of emotions accepting my first blood transfusion.  I'm sure this led to postnatal depression, further highlighting the importance of breaking the cycle of unhealthy role models I had experienced within the Jehovah's Witness community.

Tragedy struck my life once again when, at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a form of blood cancer. Over the course of two years, I endured grueling treatments, leading up to a full stem cell transplant.  Ironically, treatments meant I needed nine blood transfusions! If I had stayed a JW I would not here to tell my story and do the work I do! 

 Surviving this battle became a turning point for me, as I began to examine the deep unhappiness that had plagued me for so long.  I hid my low self esteem well, and suffered PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).  Behind the facade of a seemingly content and composed woman, I carried the weight of misery and discontentment within my own home. Despite my deep love for my children, the toxic and uncomfortable nature of my marriage made it clear that I had to leave, a decision I had contemplated for a decade.

Breaking free from the JW belief that marriage should be lifelong and fearing the potential violence that awaited me, I mustered the strength to escape the cycle of domestic abuse. Simultaneously, my husband chose to stop working, leaving me to become the sole breadwinner for my family. Determined to create a better future, I embarked on a journey of self-improvement, enrolling in college and eventually earning my degree from a British university. These educational achievements marked the beginning of my transformation and a deep desire to heal and thrive, rather than repeat the unhealthy patterns of my JW past.

My personal journey led me to explore various modalities, including Jungian psychology, mindfulness, meditation, and mindset work. These transformative practices changed my life in profound ways, prompting me to share the tools I had discovered with others who were seeking to recover from their experiences as ex-Jehovah's Witnesses. For the past 23 years, I have been helping EXJWS find their path to complete recovery and create the happy and contented lives they deserve.

Today, my life is a testament to the power of healing and growth. I find solace and fulfillment living on my houseboat, nestled within a nature reserve alongside a tranquil river. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, willow trees, seals, ducks, birds, my dog Pudding, my cat Lilibet and kittens; Cat Stevens and Baby Cheeses, I have embraced a peaceful and soulful lifestyle. I enjoy time with my loving partner, dear friends, long weekends, 70s classics, all things retro, kicking my heels off to dance, singing in the shower and sharing laughter and Prosecco with my girlfriends. Yachting holidays and live music also bring me immense joy.

Having freed myself from the indoctrination of Jehovah's Witnesses, I am proud of the 23 years I have dedicated to helping others find their own happiness and contentment. Now, it's your turn to embark on a journey of self-discovery and reclaim your life. I invite you to join me on this transformative path, where together we can bring healing, joy, and fulfillment to your life.

I want to extend my hand to you and invite you to join me for a 30-min ExJW Therapy Taster Session for just £37.  This session will serve as a stepping stone towards your freedom and complete recovery.

 It's time to move beyond mere survival and start thriving.

Together, we will unlock the power within you and create a life of joy, fulfilment and authenticity. 

Let's begin this transformative journey together.

Life is challenging for exjws.  Suffering is optional.  Book a session today >

With warmth and understanding,

Lisa Magdalena