Sara Banyan - Filmmaker, Survivor

No one could figure out why when Sara was 9, she attempted suicide. Middle child of a psychiatrist dad and psychiatric nurse mom both studied experts in Freudian and Yungian psychotherapy (her father was on Oprah) her attempt was labeled as something to get attention. Sara was psychoanalyzed from the time she was a child which only separated her further from herself.  After dozens of psychiatrists, therapists, & psychotherapists over the course of 3 decades failed to find what was at the bottomless well of pain finally a psychiatrist referred Sara to a LCSW specializing in extreme trauma, Will Randle. Very quickly while working with Will in a way she had never experienced, what came to light was that Sara was molested and all traditional psychotherapy missed it and in fact retraumatized her repeatedly. After a lifetime of searching, Sara found the person and the therapy that would change her life. Now, she is passionate about bringing Will’s work to a wider audience and making the healing they achieved in private more accessible to survivors and victims around the world.

Sara knew that she wanted to make Will's work more readily available for survivors. In March of 2022 she flew to Ohio to film a 3.5-hour conversation with Will about the epidemic of sexual abuse of children and teens. Having an accessible and educational conversation that breaks through the silence to help educate and enlighten others is the purpose.

 

Will Randle - LCSW, Trauma Specialist

Will has been working with survivors of trauma, abuse, and extreme experiences since 1998. Many of whom have Complex PTSD due to childhood abuse/trauma. He ground his understanding of how people work – and how they heal – in human physiology and Buddhist practices more than in traditional psychology. Adverse experiences affect people physically and emotionally, often beneath language’s ability to express. This physical approach is the basis of the trauma work he did with Sara. He has worked with children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. He attended Ohio State University for his graduate degree, and lived and practiced in Los Angeles for some time before returning to Columbus.

 

 

This discussion will help anyone who has suffered childhood or teen trauma or abuse. Starting with understanding and compassion, what many survivors do not receive enough of. It will also help family members, friends, mental health professionals, teachers, law enforcement and first responders. This is for anyone who knows and cares about someone who is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

 

 

 

 

Our total financial need to complete the project is:

$50,000