Toronto, Canada – Braving Healing is a new documentary created in partnership with Jeffrey Preszler and Preszler Injury Lawyers that fills a critical gap in how healing after childhood sexual abuse is understood and discussed. At a time when survivor stories are often oversimplified or rushed toward resolution, the film offers a more honest, compassionate look at the many ways people actually heal.

There is no single path to recovery, and Braving Healing is intentional about showing that reality. The documentary brings together six very different survivor stories, each reflecting how healing can be complicated, uneven, and deeply personal. Alongside these lived experiences, advocates and experts help explore issues such as addiction, loss, justice, accountability, and the small, sometimes invisible steps that can make moving forward possible.

What sets Braving Healing apart is its refusal to offer tidy answers or a “right” way to heal. Instead, the film creates space for understanding. It acknowledges that progress isn’t always dramatic or linear, and that for many survivors, healing unfolds quietly over time, in ways that don’t fit a clean or inspirational narrative. That honesty makes the film especially valuable for those working alongside survivors.

The documentary exists because of a long-standing partnership between filmmakers Kat and Luke W Russell and Jeffrey Preszler and his team at Preszler Injury Lawyers. The firm’s support allows for the time, care, and consistency required to produce survivor-centered films and educational content on an ongoing basis. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advocacy, accountability, and ensuring survivor voices are not only heard but respected.

A short companion film was previously released, introducing two attorneys at Preszler Injury Lawyers who represent survivors in civil cases. This piece helps demystify the civil justice process and shows how, for some survivors, pursuing accountability through civil litigation can be an important part of healing, offering validation, agency, and a sense of closure outside the criminal system.

“At its heart, Braving Healing is about meeting survivors where they are,” said the filmmakers. “Healing isn’t a straight line, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. This film honours that reality while reminding people that healing is possible.”

Braving Healing is designed to serve as a meaningful resource for legal professionals, nonprofit organizations, advocates, educators, and anyone committed to improving the support for survivors. By encouraging honest conversation and reducing stigma, the film aims to deepen understanding of long-term healing and the role accountability can play along the way.

About Braving Healing: The Documentary
Braving Healing: The Documentary wades into the complex, often messy, and sometimes contradicting journeys of healing after childhood sexual abuse. This film weaves together six very different stories of healing, alongside experts and advocates. From struggles with addiction and hitting rock bottom to closure through justice, Braving Healing offers a hopeful, yet sober, invitation to take the next step, however big or small.

Braving Healing: The Documentary premiered on November 22, 2025. For more information about Braving Healing, the partnership behind the documentary, or to watch it in full, visit BravingHealing.com.