This is the fifth post in a mental health series of posts by Lisa Gray. Lisa is a Marriage and Family Therapist with background in the meeting fellowship, and we are honored to have her perspectives featured here on our blog.  One of the things that I noticed when I left the meetings was my startling lack of discernment capabilities. This isn’t unique to meeting culture, but it is a hallmark of high-control religions or groups where developing discernment is not encouraged. D

By Sheralee Jensen This is the third post in a series written for workers transitioning back into civilian life. Sheralee Jensen reflects on her time in the work and the impacts those experiences continue to have on her life. When I was seventeen and living with my parents, having no savings, car, or job was normal. Finding myself in the same situation at age fifty-one was terrifying. That’s the reality for workers leaving the work. We have lost decades of earning capacity, o

Hello to our wonderful Bridges & Balm community! Thank you all for your continued generosity, trust, and unwavering care for those who are vulnerable. Because of you, we’ve been able to provide hope and healing where it’s needed most. As we enter our second holiday season here at Bridges & Balm, we are reminded that a time of year filled with gift-giving, family, and reflection for many of us can also be an especially challenging time for those facing financial and emotional

With this blog post, we are sharing the creative work of Rhonda Nichols. This poem reflects the deep grief of someone who has sacrificed everything for a spiritual sisterhood, only to face loneliness, betrayal, and bodily breakdown, all while holding on to faith and the hope of healing.  It’s the sisterhood she grieves A kinship only known by those who have given up everything Compelled by a calling, a struggle Sometimes bullied, stung by words expressed in secret Living in

This is the fourth post in a “mental health monthly” blog post series by Lisa Gray. Lisa is a Marriage and Family Therapist with...

Howard and Lynda Carnew  are about halfway through their journey on the Camino de Santiago  trail. For the Carnews, this walk is about...

This fall, Howard and Lynda Carnew are putting on their walking shoes and heading out on the  Camino de Santiago  trail, a historic...

This is the third in a series of blog posts designed to help workers moving back into civilian life. The first post in this series...

We want to express our deepest gratitude to the Bridges & Balm donors, supporters, and volunteers for your incredible generosity and care...

This is the third post in a “mental health monthly” blog post series by Lisa Gray. Lisa is a Marriage and Family Therapist with...

Periodically, we will use this space to provide updates on partner organizations who are walking beside us in this work. This Partner...

Mental Health Monthly: What is the Best Way to Heal from Spiritual Abuse? This is the second post in a “mental health monthly” blog post...

Hello Bridges & Balm community! Thank you for your incredible care for the vulnerable through your support. Spring is in the air (for us...

This is the second in a series of blog posts written for workers transitioning back into civilian life. Beginning a college degree can...

This is the first post in a “mental health monthly” blog post series by Lisa Gray. Lisa is a Marriage and Family Therapist with...

Our mission at Bridges & Balm is to support both sexual assault survivors and transitioning workers. While this blog post is for all, it...

Four foundational principles are woven into the fabric of the Bridges & Balm bylaws and policies: trust , transparency , privacy , and...

We are almost one year old! As we enter the holiday season - a time when thoughts turn to family, gift-giving, and year-end finances -...

As the holiday season approaches, we at Bridges and Balm want to acknowledge that this time of year can bring complex emotions for...

Thank you for trusting us! Trust plays such a strong role between and among donors, recipients of assistance, and Bridges & Balm. Donors,...