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A Doorway of Hope celebrates 10 years!
- Donna Meredith Dixon
- Jun 28
- 6 min read
Following an 18-month research and development phase, ADOH’s training program began with two pilot trainings in late 2015 and early 2016. An in-person betrayed partner group of women working with Sarah Morales was followed by online training with Lisa Taylor founder Beyond Betrayal Community (New Zealand) and Amanda Jackson (Australia).
Those pilot trainings formed ADOH's experiential learning training model as we journeyed together through the workbook content sharing insights and feedback throughout the process.
In June, 2016, four brave and trusting women (Fonda Davis, Esther Elmer, Joanna Raabsmith, and Shelly Waldon) officially launched A Doorway of Hope's trauma-informed peer facilitator training program.
Since then, over 350 equally brave and trusting women from Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Kenya New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE) United Kingdom, and the United States have successfully completed ADOH training.
And ADOH continues moving forward
If you haven't already met them, I encourage you to head here: ADOH board and then read about ADOH's Christian foundation, vision, mission, and core values.
Grounded in a trauma-informed approach and based on the experiential learning model, ADOH’s training program prepares trainees to facilitate as ‘guides on the side’ rather than instructors or teachers. That distinction matters in reducing harm and creating safe group cultures where group members can more easily move forward in their trauma recovery.
Passion leads people here
Those interested in ADOH training understand the importance of being prepared and equipped to effectively facilitate groups. Their journey begins by completing an application followed by an introductory conversation with a trainer to help assess readiness and guide them in making an informed decision.
Becoming equipped and prepared begins with completing ADOH's intensive and comprehensive self-study phase. Trainees describe spending an average of twenty to twenty-five hours in individual self-study time, followed by actively participating in thirty plus hours of live group sessions.
Passion lead our ADOH trainers here too
In addition to other qualifications, ADOH trainers are experienced betrayed partner group facilitators and ADOH alumni. Bonny Burns joined me in 2025 as an ADOH trainer, followed by Jane Gibbs in 2026. Passion also led them to step into this role.
Bonny Burns “My journey toward wholeness began with a small group of women who were not betrayed partners. They were safe long before 'trauma-informed' became a common phrase. With them, I was seen, heard, and supported without judgment. Their love and nurturance encouraged deeper self-awareness because they trusted that I knew what was best for me.
My first partner group experience reflected that same kind of safe community. I later learned my facilitator was especially skilled, in part, because she had been trained through A Doorway of Hope (ADOH). Before long, I completed the ADOH training myself.
Over the years, I’ve led many partner groups, but my vision has evolved. I want to leave a legacy of women helping other women heal. I feel drawn to train trauma-informed peer facilitators because I have seen both the healing and the harm that can happen in small groups. People do not need perfect facilitators; they need facilitators who are safe, grounded, and attuned.
I want to support partners who feel called to lead their own groups and grow in their ability to create spaces where stories are honored, emotions are handled with care, and no one feels alone in their healing. I believe ADOH offers a rich and transformative training experience that helps make this possible. It is both an honor and a privilege to facilitate ADOH training cohorts.”
Bonny Logsdon Burns
Betrayal Trauma and Relational Recovery Coach
APSATS-CPC, ACC, ADOH, CCCS, ERCEM trained strongwives.com sarahsociety.com
Jane Gibb “I personally benefited immensely in my early healing from being among other women on the same journey. In those peer spaces, I finally felt safe and seen, allowing me to slowly regrow my sense of trust. My first group experience was tenderly and skillfully facilitated by a leader trained in the ADOH model. Nothing felt ad hoc or random; every element was handled with such thoughtful intention that I knew I was in safe hands. That experience made such a profound impression on me that I knew I wanted to create that same caliber of safety for others.
Having facilitated betrayal trauma peer groups for several years now, I’ve seen firsthand the “dearth” of safe resources in my region. Nearly every week, I am approached by women searching for a group that fits their needs. My vision is to see safely facilitated support groups dotted across the map—warm points of light for those who need the unique healing that only connection with safe others can provide.
This is why I am a trainer. I am driven to nurture a movement of skillfully led, intentional groups, equipping new leaders with the tools to turn this vision into a reality for women in my part of the world and beyond.”
Jane Gibb
APSATS CPC, ICF ACC, ADOH, APSATS Betrayed Families Training, APSATS Religious Leaders Training, SASA Disclosure Guide Training
The power of the group
Bonny and Jane reflect why their experiences in betrayed partner recovery groups led them to ADOH and ultimately, step into the trainer role.
In Trauma and Recovery, researcher, author and trauma expert, Judith Herman, beautifully describes the power of the group:
"Traumatic events destroy the sustaining bonds between individual and community. Those who have survived learn that their sense of self, of worth, of humanity, depends upon a feeling of connection with others. The solidarity of a group provides the strongest protection against terror and despair, and the strongest antidote to traumatic experience.
Trauma isolates: the group re-creates a sense of belonging. Trauma shames and stigmatizes; the group bears witness and affirms. Trauma degrades the victim; the group exalts her. Trauma dehumanizes the victim; the group restores her humanity."
Podcasts and webinars help us experience continued growth personally and professionally. Here are two recent podcast conversations I had with Jane Gibb (ADOH trainer ) and Lyschel Burket (founder Hope Redefined) about the power of the group in betrayed partners’ recovery journey.
Jane Gibb/Quiet Wisdom:
From the ADOH board
Hannah Streeter, ADOH Board Secretary
“I am a betrayed partner with my own story of healing, restoration and sadly divorced. I completed my ADOH training in 2023, during one of the most broken seasons of my life and Donna and my group not only allowed me to continue but also supported me beautifully through the process. I knew then that this community was a special place, with training that I believed in and wanted to see grow...and so here we are.
The ADOH Board has big hopes, dreams, and plans for ADOH and we are accepting donations to put towards ADOH’s future growth and development."
We are now moving forward in reaching one goal for ADOH's future growth: Creating a well‑structured, accessible digital home for all training materials—an online platform that not only supports anytime engagement for trainees and alumni, but also provides the essential space for building ongoing community connection throughout training and long after completion.
How you can help: We landed on a platform, which carries a fee and we hired someone to transfer the program material and continue serving as an administrator. ADOH is a registered nonprofit 501c3 #33-3841887
Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.
To donate:
https://buy.stripe.com/14A7sLeP9fNv5iy24bb3q00 (One-time donation)
https://buy.stripe.com/dRmfZhdL51WFeT8gZ5b3q01 (Recurring-donation)
In closing
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