BREAKING FREE

Overcoming Trauma, Narcissistic Abuse and Addiction to Take Back Your Life
Date: 10 February 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM (UK)
Format: Live online (with breaks)

Trauma-Informed Leadership. Recovery Without Shame. Collective Power.

Breaking Free is a flagship NBWN initiative supporting women to overcome trauma, narcissistic abuse and addiction while continuing to lead, work and care for others.

This platform exists for women who are high-functioning on the outside, but carrying invisible emotional weight that affects confidence, boundaries, health and decision-making.

Breaking Free brings healing and leadership into the same conversation clearly, responsibly and without judgement.

What Is Breaking Free?

Breaking Free is a trauma-informed education and leadership platform developed to support women who have experienced:

Emotional or psychological abuse
Narcissistic relationships (personal or professional)
Addiction or unhealthy coping mechanisms
Long-term trauma, betrayal or burnout

This is not therapy and not motivational hype. It is structured learning, expert insight, lived experience and safe dialogue designed for clarity, not overwhelm.

Why This Matters

Many women are praised for resilience and called strong through burnout, while privately struggling. For Black and ethnically diverse women, trauma is often intensified by:

Cultural silence and stigma
Faith, family and community pressure
Limited access to culturally competent support
Expectations to remain strong and silent

Breaking Free exists because:

Survival is not the same as healing
Leadership does not require silence
Addiction is not a moral failure
Trauma shapes decision-making, boundaries and self-trust

This webinar helps women name what has happened, understand its impact and move forward with agency.

The Voices Behind Breaking Free

Get ready to engage with powerful, purpose-led voices behind this transformational experience.

Breaking Free brings together an extraordinary group of coaches, authors, therapists and thought leaders who have each transformed pain into insight and purpose. Their collective expertise spans trauma recovery, emotional healing, relationships, mindset, leadership and personal growth.

What unites them is not only professional credibility, but lived experience, cultural intelligence and authenticity, the qualities that make transformation real, sustainable and grounded.

These are not performative conversations. They are informed, reflective and deeply human.

Joy Langley

Emotional Intelligence Coach | CBT Therapist | Emotional & Mental Energy Strategist

Joy Langley is an experienced Emotional Intelligence Coach and CBT Therapist who has supported over 600 professionals and entrepreneurs to reclaim clarity, focus and emotional balance.

With more than twenty years of experience, Joy specialises in supporting high achievers who think deeply, feel intensely and are operating close to burnout. Her work addresses mental and emotional overload before it becomes crisis.

Through her signature T.E.A. Method (Thoughts → Emotions → Actions) and T.L.C. Framework (Tender Love & Care), Joy blends psychotherapy, emotional intelligence and neuroscience into practical, accessible tools, without fluff or overwhelm.

Her mission is clear: to help driven individuals think better, feel better and lead with calm, confidence and purpose.

Kim Olver (USA)

LCPC, NCC, BCC | Founder of Mental Freedom®

Kim Olver is a globally respected counsellor, coach and international speaker with over thirty years of experience supporting individuals to regain control of their inner world.

She is the visionary founder of Mental Freedom®, a powerful framework that helps people move from chaos to clarity, from blame to responsibility and from reaction to choice.

As the author of Mental Freedom: You Hold the Key and several influential books on relationships, leadership and self-mastery, Kim’s work empowers people to become bigger than anything that happens to them.

Her mission is bold and uncompromising: to end self-created misery and help people live with peace, empowerment and emotional freedom.

Ian Jefferis BSc., MA.

Accredited Practitioner Coach | Royal Navy Veteran | Youth & Leadership Mentor

Ian Jefferis is an Accredited Practitioner Coach, Royal Navy veteran and purpose-driven mentor whose work focuses on resilience, leadership and emotional development.

After a distinguished military career flying helicopters and leading operations under pressure, Ian transitioned into entrepreneurship before dedicating his life to coaching and youth development.

As lead programme developer for Noble Manhattan Coaching’s Adolescent and Child Coaching Programme, Ian has helped shape global conversations on youth wellbeing, mindset and leadership.

Today, he works with schools, charities, parents and young people to develop emotional resilience, confidence and life skills in an increasingly complex world.

Suzanne Simmons-Lewis

Author, Executive & Personal Performance Coach, Communications Consultant, Storyteller, Journalist, Speaker

Suzanne Simmons-Lewis is the author of Who Am I? Swap Your Straight Jacket for a Bespoke Suit and a highly respected executive and personal performance coach.

With over twenty years of experience in journalism and communications strategy, Suzanne helps ambitious women dismantle the invisible pressures of perfectionism, performance and self-doubt.

Her identity-based coaching framework supports women to reconnect with who they truly are and intentionally design lives aligned with purpose, clarity and confidence.

Suzanne does not help women find themselves.
She helps them become themselves on their own terms.

Lilia Tchalaia

Holistic & Relationship Coach

Lilia Tchalaia is a certified holistic and relationship coach whose journey from emotional survival to personal sovereignty inspires women worldwide.

After years in a toxic, co-dependent marriage marked by fear, guilt and self-doubt, Lilia reached a breaking point that became the foundation for transformation.

Her coaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that freedom, peace and love are not external achievements, they are inner states that can be reclaimed.

Now based in Barcelona, Lilia supports women to break emotional bondage, reconnect with their essence and create lives defined by authenticity, peace and power.

Babita Spinelli (USA)

Psychotherapist | Relationship Expert | Executive Coach

Babita Spinelli is an acclaimed psychotherapist, executive coach and relationship expert recognised internationally for her work in emotional wellness and communication.

Founder of Opening the Doors Psychotherapy and The Babita Spinelli Group, she helps individuals and couples break unhealthy cycles, rebuild trust and develop secure, intentional relationships.

A former attorney turned psychotherapist, Babita integrates psychological depth with practical tools. Recently honoured as 2024–2025 Psychotherapist of the Year, her work has been featured in Forbes, CNN, The Washington Post, NBC, Today and more.

Her work empowers people to move from reactive patterns to conscious connection, in both personal and professional life.

Dr. Sarah Williams-Tolliver, LPC, NCC, ACS (USA)

Psychotherapist | Relationship Expert | Executive Coach

Helping high-achieving women reclaim balance, emotional peace and purpose through culturally rooted, evidence-based care, Dr. Sarah Williams leads a private practice serving professionals across the U.S. and abroad, offering therapy, coaching and wellness consulting for individuals in high-pressure industries—including entertainment, media and leadership. Her compassionate, evidence-based approach empowers clients to heal from trauma, grief and burnout while reclaiming balance and emotional clarity.

Dr. Williams has been featured across national and international media platforms for her thought leadership on mental health, resilience and psychological safety. She collaborates with journalists, producers and celebrities to elevate conversations about emotional well-being,

Blending fashion and psychotherapy, Dr. Williams explores how personal style, self-expression and emotional wellness intersect—helping individuals embody confidence and healing both inside and out.

A highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Williams delivers powerful keynotes and workshops that blend clinical insight with relatable storytelling offering transformative tools for professionals, creatives and leaders ready to evolve beyond stress, silence and self-doubt. Her message is both universal and deeply personal: Healing begins when we honour our humanity, not just our strength.

What We Will Explore

Across the day, conversations and sessions will explore:

How trauma impacts thinking, confidence and decision-making
Narcissistic abuse, gaslighting and emotional manipulation
Addiction and coping mechanisms without shame
Cultural silence and intergenerational expectations
Rebuilding boundaries, identity and self-trust
Integrating healing with leadership and purpose

Everything is delivered with psychological safety, cultural awareness and respect for lived experience.

What We Will Focus On

Breaking Free explores the real intersections between:

Trauma and leadership performance
Narcissistic abuse, gaslighting and control
Addiction as a coping response
Emotional manipulation and self-blame
Recovery, boundaries and identity rebuilding
Leading with clarity after trauma

All content is delivered with care, cultural intelligence and psychological safety.

This one-day experience has been intentionally designed as a journey, not a series of disconnected talks.

Each speaker brings a distinct perspective, while the programme flows in a way that invites depth without overwhelm, reflection without exposure and empowerment without pressure. The structure recognises that healing unfolds differently for everyone, particularly for women who are still leading, working and caring for others.

Expect:
Open, guided conversations rather than sensational storytelling
Practical tools that support real-life application
Honest reflections delivered with care and responsibility
Space to pause, process and reconnect with inner clarity
This is education and empowerment, not re-traumatisation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this event therapy?
No. This is an educational, trauma-informed experience designed to increase understanding, clarity and self-awareness.
Do I need to share my personal story?
No. Participation is entirely optional. Listening and reflection are equally valid forms of engagement.
Is this suitable if I am still working or leading?
Yes. The event is designed specifically for women navigating recovery while remaining professionally active.
Will this be triggering?
The programme is carefully structured to avoid re-traumatisation. Sessions are facilitated with care, pacing and psychological safety in mind.
Do I need prior knowledge?
No. All concepts are explained clearly and accessibly.
Who is this event for?
Women who have experienced emotional harm, abuse, trauma or unhealthy coping patterns and are ready for clarity rather than judgement.

What You Will Leave With

By the end of Breaking Free, participants consistently describe leaving with:

Greater clarity about their experiences and patterns
Courage to trust their own perceptions and instincts
Practical strategies to integrate healing into everyday life
Language to name what has been difficult to articulate
A renewed sense of agency, purpose and direction

This is not about fixing yourself.

It is about remembering who you are, with discernment, dignity and power.

How Breaking Free Works

Clear Education: Accessible insight into trauma, abuse and addiction, without clinical overload.

Expert-Led Conversations: Award winning speakers with professional and lived expertise who understand complexity, culture and care.

Leadership Integration: Support for women navigating recovery while remaining professionally active.

Community and Belonging: A space where women are believed, not judged.

Featured Programme: Breaking Free Webinar

Breaking Free: Overcoming Trauma, Narcissistic Abuse and Addiction to Take Back Your Life
Date: 10 February 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 7:30 PM (UK)
Format: Live online (with breaks)
Hosted by:
Sonia Brown MBE, Founder, National Black Women’s Network
Featuring an international group of respected and acclaimed speakers from across the UK and USA with expertise in:

Trauma recovery and emotional wellbeing
Emotional intelligence and burnout
Identity, leadership and resilience
Holistic and relational healing
Grief, loss and women’s mental health

Agenda

Add Agenda here

Still Not Convinced!

Breaking Free is for women who:

Are high-achieving but emotionally exhausted
Have experienced abuse, control or betrayal
Are questioning patterns in relationships or leadership
Want understanding, not judgement
Are ready to rebuild clarity and boundaries

It is also for organisations committed to trauma-informed leadership and wellbeing.

Partner With Breaking Free

We welcome partnerships aligned with:

Trauma-informed leadership and wellbeing
Women’s inclusion and retention
Research, learning and community impact
Ethical and culturally intelligent practice

PARTNER & SPONSOR

Breaking Free is a flagship National Black Women’s Network initiative that sits at the intersection of trauma narcissistic abuse addiction wellbeing and leadership. It exists to meet a growing and often unmet need for culturally intelligent and psychologically informed spaces that support women who are navigating recovery while remaining active in professional leadership and community life.

The initiative is designed for women who continue to carry responsibility visibility and influence while privately managing experiences that are rarely acknowledged within traditional leadership frameworks.

Why Breaking Free Matters

Many women are publicly praised for resilience strength and perseverance while privately carrying experiences that affect confidence health clarity and long term decision making. Over time this hidden emotional labour impacts leadership presence career progression wellbeing and self-trust. Breaking Free brings recovery and leadership into the same conversation in a way that is responsible ethical and grounded. It deliberately avoids sensationalism exposure driven narratives and performative wellbeing. Instead it offers clarity language and structured insight that respects the dignity intelligence and autonomy of women who are still leading while healing.

The Questions This Initiative Addresses

Breaking Free is built around five core questions that partners and sponsors consistently raise in relation to women leadership wellbeing and sustainability.

The first question asks what the true cost of resilience is when women are expected to endure without adequate support.
The second question explores how unresolved trauma quietly shapes leadership behaviour confidence and decision making over time.
The third question examines why many wellbeing and trauma initiatives fail high functioning women who do not identify with victim narratives.
The fourth question considers what trauma informed leadership looks like beyond policy statements and compliance frameworks.
The fifth question asks how generational and cultural cycles can be interrupted without shame exposure or loss of professional credibility.

The Evidence Base

Global and workplace research consistently shows that psychological and emotional abuse affects a significant proportion of women across their lifetime often without formal recognition or support. Midlife women particularly those aged forty and above represent one of the fastest growing groups experiencing burnout stress related illness and confidence erosion while holding senior roles. Research also shows that a majority of professionals continue working through trauma or major life disruption with little or no structured organisational support.

1 in 3 women globally will experience psychological or emotional abuse in their lifetime, often without formal recognition or support.
Women aged 40–60 are the fastest-growing demographic experiencing burnout, stress-related illness and confidence erosion — while holding senior roles.
Over 60% of professionals report continuing to work through trauma or major life disruption with little or no organisational support.
Psychological safety is now one of the top three predictors of team performance, retention and ethical decision-making.
Culturally competent wellbeing provision remains significantly under-resourced for Black, Asian and ethnically diverse women, particularly in leadership pathways.

Psychological safety is now recognised as a core driver of ethical decision making retention and performance. At the same time culturally competent wellbeing provision remains significantly under resourced for Black Asian and ethnically diverse women particularly within leadership pathways.

Breaking Free responds to these realities with depth care and leadership accountability.

Who This Initiative Serves

Breaking Free is designed for women aged forty and above who are navigating leadership responsibility alongside recovery. This includes senior professionals founders entrepreneurs community advocates academics and women operating across UK and global contexts. The initiative recognises that leadership does not pause during personal challenge and that support must reflect this reality.

What Partners and Sponsors Enable

Partners and sponsors of Breaking Free enable more than an event. They support ethically delivered flagship webinars and leadership conversations. They contribute to research and insight development that informs organisational and community practice. They help expand access through subsidised attendance for women who would otherwise be excluded. They invest in wellbeing and leadership initiatives that are grounded responsible and designed for long term impact rather than one off intervention.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking partners and sponsors who value integrity over optics and substance over short term visibility. We are looking for organisations and institutions that understand the connection between wellbeing leadership and performance and who are committed to psychological safety inclusion and ethical practice. We welcome partners who see collaboration as a shared responsibility and who are interested in contributing to long term insight sustainable change and credible leadership development.

Governance and Integrity

Breaking Free is delivered by the National Black Women’s Network which brings over twenty years of experience in leadership advocacy and programme delivery. All content is delivered with strong ethical boundaries clear safeguarding principles and a clear distinction between education support and therapy.

With strong ethical boundaries and trauma-informed safeguarding
Clear distinction between education, support and therapy
Designed for credibility with corporate, public, academic and community stakeholders

This ensures credibility trust and long term value for partners participants and communities.

Next Steps

We welcome conversations with aligned partners and sponsors who wish to explore meaningful collaboration.

Contact: info@nbwn.org

Website: www.nbwn.org/breaking free

Breaking Free is where recovery meets leadership.