About Me

Hi, I'm Sarah Elizabeth Chapman.

I'm a wife, mother of three incredible boys, author, trauma survivor, advocate, special needs parent, and the heart behind Breaking Cycles with Sarah.

But more than anything, I am someone who refused to let pain have the final say.

My story isn't one that began with a mission or a platform. It began in survival.

Like so many others, I grew up carrying wounds that were never meant for me to bear. I learned early on that trauma has a way of weaving itself into families, relationships, and generations. I experienced firsthand how silence can protect the wrong people, how secrets can destroy trust, and how unresolved pain can continue cycling through families for decades.

For years, I simply did what so many survivors do—I survived.

Then everything changed.

In May of 2023, our family experienced a devastating trauma that shattered the life we thought we knew. During what was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime anniversary trip for my husband and me, someone we loved and trusted took advantage of our absence and sexually abused two of our autistic sons.

Nothing prepares you for that phone call.

Nothing prepares you for hearing your children describe the unimaginable.

Nothing prepares you for realizing that someone you trusted with your babies caused them harm.

And perhaps most painfully, nothing prepares you for discovering that not everyone will stand beside you when you choose to tell the truth.

In the aftermath, our family endured not only the trauma itself but also the painful reality that speaking up often comes with tremendous loss. Relationships changed. Trust was broken. The people we thought would stand with us sometimes chose comfort over accountability and silence over protection.

But somewhere in the middle of our darkest days, something else happened.

I changed.

I stopped surviving.

I started healing.

I started speaking.

I started fighting.

I realized that cycles only continue when someone is unwilling to interrupt them.

So, I chose to become the interruption.

I chose to become the cycle breaker.

That decision changed everything.

Today, I am a fierce advocate for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, particularly those within the special needs and autism communities. I am passionate about educating others on trauma, family dynamics, victim advocacy, and generational healing. I openly discuss the realities of grief, betrayal, parenting through trauma, mental health, faith, and what it truly looks like to rebuild after your entire world falls apart.

Because healing isn't pretty.

It's messy.

It's heartbreaking.

It's exhausting.

And sometimes it feels impossible.

But I am living proof that impossible things happen every day.

Alongside advocacy, I wear many hats.

I am a proud wife to my husband, Steven, who has been my steady hand through some of our family's darkest seasons. Together, we are raising three amazing boys who continually remind us what resilience, courage, and unconditional love look like.

I am also the author of my memoir, The Darkness Had a Name, where I share our family's journey through trauma, loss, justice, grief, and ultimately hope. Writing became part of my healing process, and my prayer is that my story becomes a light for others walking through their own darkness.

When I'm not advocating, writing, or creating content, you'll likely find me doing what fills my soul—spending time with my family, loving on our doodles and cats, diving into a good book, creating art, crafting, embracing all things Disney, studying Scripture, or finding quiet moments to simply breathe and reflect.

Breaking Cycles with Sarah was born from one simple belief:

What happened to us may always be part of our story, but it does not get to define our future.

This space exists for the survivors.

For the parents fighting battles no one else sees.

For the people learning to set boundaries.

For the ones grieving relationships that changed forever.

For those trying to parent differently than they were parented.

For anyone carrying wounds that were never their fault.

And for every person who has ever wondered if healing is possible.

Here, we talk about the hard things.

We speak the truth.

We advocate fiercely.

We heal honestly.

We grieve openly.

We laugh when we can.

We cry when we need to.

And above all else, we remind one another that breaking cycles is possible.

Because healing doesn't happen in silence.

It happens when someone is brave enough to say:

"The cycle stops with me."

Thank you for being here.

I'm honored to walk this journey with you.

With love,

Sarah Elizabeth Chapman
Founder, Breaking Cycles with Sarah
Author of The Darkness Had a Name
Trauma Survivor • Special Needs Mom • Advocate • Cycle Breaker