Hidden Water
A restorative justice approach for all who are impacted by childhood sexual abuse
Hidden Water was formally launched in 2015, but its story starts well before that. Founded and led by Elizabeth Clemants, a social worker, mediator, coach, and shaman with decades of experience in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Elizabeth spent years mediating cases involving family members. The underlying issue was frequently childhood sexual abuse. Often ending with a resolution on issues but having not made a positive impact on the dynamic surrounding the abuse, it became clear that mediation only resulted in more pain and harm. In search of something different, Elizabeth with the help of many others spent years researching for an intervention that worked. Eventually meeting Kay Pranis and learning of an ancient practice used for healing and conflict resolution called Circle Keeping.
Today, Hidden Water is a restorative justice program for individuals and families impacted by childhood sexual abuse. Our model is based on the indigenous practice of Peacemaking Circles, and founded on the belief that childhood sexual abuse harms not only the person directly impacted, but harms the entire web of connected relationships. By offering an opportunity for each affected person to do the work they need in a Healing Circle with others who share a similar experience, the work of Hidden Water supports the repair and rebalancing of the system of relationships. Hidden Water’s mission is to stop childhood sexual abuse from reaching the next generation by strengthen the family system now.
Green
Green Healing Circles are for adults who were sexually abused as a child or young person, and are working to heal, come to a balanced place in their family and/or in their web of relationships, and continue their path of growth, empowerment and transformation.
Blue
Blue Healing Circles are for family system members, partners, and friends who are impacted by the experience of childhood sexual abuse of a loved one — either a loved one who harmed or was harmed — and who are committed both to supporting their loved ones and to healing themselves.
Orange
Orange Healing Circles are for non-offending parents or others who had the responsibility of keeping their child safe from sexual harm and were unable to do so. Orange Circles are also for non-offending parents or others who had the responsibility of keeping their child from sexually harming someone, and were unable to do so. Orange Circles are for those working to heal and come to a more balanced place in themselves, their family, and within their web of relationships.
Purple
Purple Healing Circles are for individuals who are committed to healing from having harmed a child sexually by taking full responsibility for the harm they caused, and who are seeking redemption and a deeper understanding of themselves in order to come to a more balanced place within their family system and/or within their web of relationships.
Family
Hidden Water is committed to providing a safe space for all to further their healing from the harm of childhood sexual violation and/or abuse. Our Family System Circle is an opportunity for those who identify as a family or familial system to sit together in a structured and safe space to listen and be heard, and to consider what is possible going forward.