Thordis Elva

After working in violence prevention for 15 years, Thordis Elva has extensive knowledge of abuse and trauma. Her TED talk, which outlines her own experience of sexual violence at the age of 16 and was performed in collaboration with her perpetrator, has been viewed over six million times. She has written award-winning films and books that have been translated into 20 languages, as well as being an expert advisor to governments on violence against women and children. Thordis Elva's contribution towards gender-equality earned her the title Woman of the Year in 2015.  She is a certified hypnotist and clinical hypnotherapist. Through her work in women's shelters, as well as serving as the Chair of the Nordic Digital Rights and Equality Foundation, she has helped many survivors of domestic and interpersonal violence, harassment, sexual assault, cyber bullying and image-based sexual abuse, online as well as offline. As a mother of five, including twins who survived an impossibly high-risk pregnancy, she is no stranger to the stress of everyday life. She believes that all people experience some form of trauma in their lifetime, and that everyone has the right to heal on their own terms. As a hypnotherapist and havening practicioner, Thordis Elva welcomes people who are seeking to manage stress, improve their emotional health and resolve past issues that may still be causing distress in their daily lives. She is based in Iceland, but uses Zoom to help people worldwide, in English, Swedish and Icelandic.