“I learned that keeping silent was colluding with the dysfunction around me. Risa gave me permission to speak up in my personal life. It was empowering. What I have inside is of value and deserves to be shared and heard. I don’t have to worry about what others think. I’ve always measured what others think before saying anything and silenced myself, how ridiculous! At work I could speak up but not at home. I walked away identifying what held me back, the way I handle conflict was destructive and that’s all I ever knew how to do, so I avoided it and then it boiled over. It was easy for me to talk about what I DON’T want, but after this class I know what I do want and have skills to do it differently.”