5WAVESorg

🌊Meet the five women behind 5WAVES. Two survivors. Three parents. Five timezones. Five lived experiences that shaped a global movement. Each of our founders came to this work through personal impact—whether as a survivor of sibling s/xual trauma or a parent navigating the aftermath of harm within their own home. What united them was a shared realization: the world was unprepared to talk about sibling s/xual trauma & abuse, let alone respond to it with accuracy, compassion, or care. So, they built what didn’t exist. Together, they launched 5WAVES—a nonprofit grounded in lived experience, trauma-informed education, and global advocacy. They co-created 5WAVES’ sister site, SiblingSexualTrauma.com, the first centralized hub of resources for survivors, families, and professionals. They established peer spaces for parents and survivors. They challenged outdated language. And they helped bring public attention to a form of abuse that has lived too long in silence. Today, their leadership is helping shift the global conversation on sibling s/xual trauma—from confusion and invisibility to clarity, validation, and systems change. This is what it looks like when experience leads the way forward. And it even is building momentum towards the first annual Sibling S/xual Trauma Confernece in 2026! 💰Looking to donate to a nonprofit that speaks to your heart this year? Click the link in our bio to be able to donate to 5WAVES. #SiblingToo #5WAVES #ExperienceLed #SSTisReal #TraumaInformedLeadership #LivedExperienceVoices #CSAawareness #GlobalAdvocacy #BreakingTheSilence #SiblingTrauma #SiblingAbuse #SurvivorLedHealing #Trauma #TraumaHealing #CPTSD #PTDS #SSA #SST #NonProfit #Charity

🌊Every wave has a current beneath it — at 5WAVES, that current is our values. These principles guide how we show up, how we work, and the change we’re committed to building together. 💙Ready to make a meaningful impact? Let’s connect. Whether through volunteering, collaboration, or shared advocacy, there’s a place for you in this movement. Comment below or send us a DM to explore how you can get involved. #5WAVES #SiblingsToo #MeToo #SupportSurvivors #TraumaInformed #SurvivorVoices #MentalHealthMatters #EndCSA #CSA #CPTSD #PTSD #ACEs #PublicHealth #HealingJourney #SelfCare #SiblingSurvivors #SSTA #SSA #ComplexTrauma #Prevention #Nonprofit

As you may have heard, 5WAVES, Inc. will be hosting Sibling Se/ual Trauma and Abuse: Breaking the Silence, the first-ever conference entirely focused on sibling se/ual trauma and abuse (SSTA), at Long Island University-Campus (LIU Post) on June 23, 2026. We are excited to announce a 2-for-1 CAC rate, allowing two employees of CACs or organizations working directly with CACs to attend together at our already low rate of $250. To access this special rate, please email [email protected] with "CAC Discount" in the subject line. The two attendees who register together do not have to be employed by the same CAC. Feel free to pass on this link to other CACs and to others that you directly work with on SSTA cases (DA’s office, detectives, family support specialists, therapists you refer to, juvenile justice system workers, etc). Learn more about 5WAVES and the conference below. We hope to see you there! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact [email protected]. Conference info: /conference #siblingstoo #5WAVES #livedexperience #breakingthesilence2026

Attending the conference? Friendly reminder that we have a private Facebook group for attendees, speakers, and volunteers. It's the easiest place to: Ask travel questions! Sort out hotel or dorm questions! Connect with others before arriving! Ask the co-founders questions! Benefit from @nubiadwilson at @cieloconsulting event-planning brilliance! Because arriving somewhere new and knowing absolutely no one? A little overrated. If you're attending and not in yet, email [email protected] with PRIVATE FB GROUP in the subject line and we'll vet you and get you added. Everything you need to know about the SSTA Breaking The Silence Conference can be found at the conference website: /conference #5waves #breakingthesilence2026 #siblingabuse

Many survivors try to tell in small ways long before anyone is ready to hear...through words, behavior, or signals that something isn’t right. When those attempts are ignored or dismissed, the truth doesn’t disappear. It stays with the child, waiting for a safer time to be understood. If you spoke and no one responded, that silence was not proof you were mistaken. It was proof you were alone. 5WAVES.org 💙 #5WAVES #siblingstoo #ssta #SiblingAbuse

“Child safety champion” Diane Tarantini is dedicated to educating adults and kids on how to prevent all types of child se/ual abuse (CSA). However, since she is a survivor of Sibling Se/ual Trauma and Abuse, SSTA is the CSA category she finds most compelling. She is the author of the memoir "Everyone Was Silent" and the children’s body safety book "The Brave Knight." While writing books and blog posts, and speaking at body safety assemblies in public schools, go a long way toward educating the public on SSTA, something special happens when survivors gather for an in-person event. To learn about their common experience, speak the same “language,” and support one another. As such, Tarantini is honored to underwrite the expenses for the “Breaking the Silence” conference and to moderate a panel at the event, “Transforming Pain into Prevention.” Since so many survivors have asked how to turn their pain into purpose, Tarantini and her panelists will share their favorite tips and tricks regarding advocacy work. @writingdianet Everything you need to know about the conference and registration can be found on the conference website at: /conference #5WAVES #ssta #livedexperience #sponsors #breakingthesilence2026

Many survivors don’t stop speaking because they’ve healed.... They stop because the questions hurt more than the silence. Belief, patience, and presence matter more than curiosity. If you’re unsure what to say, start by listening. Resources for survivors and those who love them: 5WAVES.org and siblingsexualtrauma.com #livedexperience #SiblingAbuse #5WAVES #ssta #SiblingsToo

Denial can feel safer than facing a reality that brings guilt, grief, or responsibility. But when protecting an illusion takes priority, the relationship itself often begins to fracture. Survivors don’t ask parents to be perfect; they ask to be seen, heard, and taken seriously. Choosing truth may be painful, but it keeps the door open for connection. Ignoring it can quietly close that door over time. 5WAVES.org 💙 siblingsexualtrauma.com #SiblingAbuse #ssta #livedexperience #5WAVES #SiblingsToo

Families often feel pulled between competing fears: protecting relationships, facing painful realities, and not knowing how to move forward. The fear of confrontation can be overwhelming, leading to avoidance and stagnation. Defensiveness can shut down conversations before understanding has a chance to grow, causing feelings of frustration and resentment to simmer beneath the surface. Curiosity, even when uncomfortable, creates space for compassion on all sides, allowing for a deeper understanding of each other's perspectives. It's the willingness to listen, to ask questions, and to explore the unknown that fosters an environment of empathy and growth. Healing doesn’t require perfection; it requires a willingness to listen, learn, and stay in the room, even when the conversation gets tough. It requires a commitment to understanding, to validating each other's experiences, and to working together towards a brighter future. By doing so, we can break down the barriers that divide us and build bridges of compassion and love. 💙 5WAVES.org 💙 siblingsexualtrauma.com #5WAVES #ssta #livedexperience #SiblingAbuse

Kimberly King is a body safety educator, author, and advocate dedicated to helping parents and caregivers confidently talk with children about abuse prevention. She is the author of I Said No! A Kid-to-Kid Guide to Keeping Private Parts Private and Body Safety for Young Children: Empowering Caring Adults, a practical resource for parents and educators. A survivor-turned-educator, Kimberly’s work draws on her lived experience and focuses on making prevention more accessible by empowering families with simple, effective tools to protect children. She will join the panel Transforming Pain into Prevention at the conference. @toughtopicsmom Everything you need to know about the conference and registration can be found at the conference websie: /conference #livedexperience #5WAVES #breakingthesilence2026 #sponsors #ssta

When a parent reacts with denial, panic, shutdown, or anger, survivors often internalize the response as proof that they asked for too much or did something wrong. In reality, it usually reflects the parent’s capacity, not the child’s value. You deserved support, steadiness, and protection, even if the adults in your life didn’t have the tools to offer it. 5WAVES.org 💙 siblingsexualtrauma.com #SiblingsToo #5WAVES #livedexperience #SiblingAbuse #ssta

Loving a survivor doesn’t require having the right answers. It requires listening without judgment, respecting boundaries, and understanding that healing isn’t linear. You don’t need to fix the past. You don’t need to rush the process. You just need to stay present. Support is available for partners and families navigating this together: 5WAVES.org | siblingsexualtrauma.com #SiblingsToo #5WAVES #livedexperience #SiblingAbuse