Amber Washington, a Utah author, mother and entrepreneur, is turning decades of silent suffering into a message of strength through her newly released memoir, “(W)hole My Journey to W.” The book, launched last month at Saprea in Lehi, recounts her experience with childhood sexual abuse, the difficult road to recovery and the resilience that ultimately reshaped her life.
Washington calls the book “raw, unfiltered and rooted in honesty,” offering readers a deeply personal look at the pain she endured and the healing she fought for. Her story spans family trauma, broken trust, cultural pressure and the long journey toward self-acceptance. It also reflects the accountability she takes for her own missteps along the way, as she charts her path from wounded to whole.
Much of her memoir focuses on her early years growing up in Orem, where she says the abuse began around age 6 or 7. Washington describes what she now recognizes as grooming behaviors—actions that seemed subtle in the moment but became clear through the lens of adulthood. At age 9, she bravely disclosed the abuse to her parents, an unusually young age to speak out.
According to Saprea, a Utah-based nonprofit specializing in child sexual abuse prevention, most survivors do not disclose their trauma until adulthood, making Washington’s courage rare and significant.
Although her parents confronted the alleged abuser and the abuse stopped, the emotional fallout continued for years. Washington writes about feeling broken, ashamed and uncertain whether her family believed her.
Those internal wounds followed her into adolescence and adulthood, affecting her relationships and her ability to feel safe and emotionally connected. Chris Yadon, managing director at Saprea, explains that unresolved childhood abuse often leads to long-term mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety and substance use.
Washington’s healing journey began to shift in 2022. During a challenging season of raising children and navigating a divorce, she finally began writing the book she had imagined since her teens. Around the same time, she connected with Saprea’s retreats and resources, which she says played an essential role in her ability to process deep-seated trauma. Saprea’s model emphasizes community-based healing alongside traditional therapy, offering survivors a safe space to confront long-buried pain.
As an extension of her mission, Washington launched her own organization, Whole Heals, dedicated to providing trauma-informed education, tools and programs for survivors. She is also donating a portion of her book proceeds to support Saprea’s work, continuing her commitment to helping others reclaim their lives.
For Washington, the message she hopes readers carry forward is simple but profound: healing is possible. “You know, we can be crappy people, but we don’t have to stay there,” she said. The mother of three hopes her openness encourages other survivors to find their voice, confront their trauma and move toward wholeness.
Readers can learn more about her memoir and healing programs by visiting her company’s website.
