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Olga Trujillo J.D.

About

Olga Trujillo is a national trainer, speaker, and advocate for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. Her work draws from her personal experiences as well as her background as an attorney to help communities improve their response to survivors.

Throughout her childhood, Olga suffered violence and sexual abuse at the hands of her father and brothers. Very early she learned to separate from these vicious attacks in a process called dissociation. Blocking herself from the terrors of her real life, Olga began to "go away in her head" and create alternate senses of herself, or "parts"—distinct personalities that allowed her to compartmentalize and temporarily forget the abuse so that she could continue to function, at least on the outside, like any other child.

The Sum of My Parts: A Survivor’s Story of Dissociative Identity Disorder (now available) tells Olga’s story from the time she began to split into parts, through her courageous struggle to put herself back together and finally develop a whole picture of her life for the first time.

Olga now conducts trainings for mental health professionals, medical professionals, advocates and first responders as well as criminal justice professionals on issues of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking.

As a consultant she has worked with a range of organizations addressing the issues of violence against women and children and, in particular, the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse. A nationally sought speaker, Olga has appeared in several videos including Cut it Out, a domestic violence training video, and A Survivor’s Story, a training video based on her personal experience and live presentations. Olga is a recipient of the Bud Cramer Leadership Award given by the National Children’s Alliance and a Sunshine Lady Foundation 2006 Peace Award for her work on behalf of battered women and their children. Latina Magazine featured Olga in its August 2006 issue for her survival and her work on these issues.

Books by Olga Trujillo J.D.
Recent Posts
The Bumpy Path of Healing
The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.
A Girl's Best Friend: Dogs and DID
A psychiatric service dog can help interrupt dissociation, help a person remember to take medication, retrieve objects, guide her from stressful situations such as crowded areas, even physically brace her if she becomes dizzy, lightheaded or dissociative.
The Power of Culture
Without knowing, Popi created for me a hierarchy of values that helped me to survive the terror he inflicted on his family in the name of culture and in the name of respect.
An Infinite Mind
It was a magical experience to be around people who understood the pain and the power of living with DID.
My Dog Griffin: The Antidote

He is the first dog that I have allowed myself to love since I was a little girl.

He is the first dog that I have allowed myself to love since I was a little girl.

Good Reads on Healing, Trauma & Dissociation

The novel tells the story of Little Miss So-and-So. The prose poetry's rhythmic quality felt intimately familiar. I found myself captivated by the main character, surprised to find such a perfect illustration of dissociative identity disorder (DID) from the inside out. Chris' words clearly captured what it felt like in my head to be divided.

The novel tells the story of Little Miss So-and-So. The prose poetry's rhythmic quality felt intimately familiar. I found myself captivated by the main character, surprised to find such a perfect illustration of dissociative identity disorder (DID) from the inside out. Chris' words clearly captured what it felt like in my head to be divided.

Dieting and DID

I've talked with other survivors of child sexual assault about how hard it is to eat well. Since many of us were "rewarded" with food after we were abused, we were conditioned to crave a "treat" after getting through something very difficult.

I've talked with other survivors of child sexual assault about how hard it is to eat well. Since many of us were "rewarded" with food after we were abused, we were conditioned to crave a "treat" after getting through something very difficult.

It Gets Better

Each time I come out of the darkness I revel once again in the light and my newfound strength. I have overcome it and when it comes again, I will ride that out, too. In the meantime, I enjoy the peace of feeling happy, sane and stable.

Each time I come out of the darkness I revel once again in the light and my newfound strength. I have overcome it and when it comes again, I will ride that out, too. In the meantime, I enjoy the peace of feeling happy, sane and stable.

Getting Through Sexual Abuse Scandals and Depression

The child sexual abuse scandals at Penn State and Syracuse University can be hard to hear for anyone. For those, like me, who have been sexually abused by people we trusted it can have a profound impact. It may remind us of our own abuse, bring up flashbacks, nightmares, grief and mourning. Depression is usually where I end up.

The child sexual abuse scandals at Penn State and Syracuse University can be hard to hear for anyone. For those, like me, who have been sexually abused by people we trusted it can have a profound impact. It may remind us of our own abuse, bring up flashbacks, nightmares, grief and mourning. Depression is usually where I end up.

The Bumpy Path of Healing

The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.

The past several months have been incredibly difficult and very humbling. With the work I have done around the country, in writing my book and writing this blog, I thought I was past the pain. I thought I could always take the broad view. I became complacent, thinking I'd never do anything to hurt myself.