Welcome to Strange Woman: Stories of Resilience and Identity

How a Doctor's Degrading Diagnosis Became My Declaration of Power and Resilience

Hi, I’m Jennifer, and I’m writing a book called Strange Woman. It’s a blend of poetry and personal narrative that reclaims the term "strange" as a symbol of strength, courage, and resilience. The title comes from a traumatic experience that happened to me in Fort Collins, Colorado, in March 2023, where I was sexually assaulted by a doctor, and later, when I watched body cam footage of the police interview, he referred to each of us—me and another woman whom he had paid off—as "strange girls." It was a degrading way to dismiss our strength and our voices.

What struck me about this label is how society often considers women "strange" simply for refusing to silently endure violence or oppression. The very act of standing up and resisting makes us strange, as it defies the expectation that women should internalize such harm. Through poetry and narrative, this book explores how that term, once weaponized to silence and stigmatize, has transformed into a symbol of empowerment and identity.

Writing this book was a way of solving a problem for myself: Although it wasn’t the first time I was sexually assaulted—which is, unfortunately, all too common among survivors—it was the first time I pressed charges and pursued civil damages.

In the aftermath of pressing charges, and pursuing justice, I needed a kind of user manual—something to answer, What happens next? I felt lost and isolated, and I wanted guidance from someone who’d been through it and come out stronger on the other side. That’s what Strange Woman became—a roadmap of survival, healing, and reclaiming power.

A significant part of why I was able to handle this experience differently was my successful participation in a Phase 3 clinical trial for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, which I completed almost one year to the day prior to the sexual assault with the doctor. The irony of it is that I qualified for this study because of a PTSD diagnosis I received as a result of a sexual assault I experienced in college. It was this very therapy, aimed at helping survivors like me, that gave me the strength and resilience to approach my next assault differently.

When the assault happened, I immediately noticed a profound shift in how I handled the situation. This time, a part of me showed up with courage and resilience, immediately calling 911 when no one in the office building could help me. I didn’t stop asking for help and pursuing justice from every possible angle until I got the support I needed. I attribute much of this change to the therapeutic impact of MDMA.

I believe survivors need better options for healing and access to therapies that actually work—therapies that restore the trust in ourselves that is often decimated when sexual assault happens. Survivors deserve the tools to reclaim their strength and rebuild a sense of trust and agency in their own lives.

But the system is failing us. Despite the fact that five other women have pressed charges against this man, and even though I provided detailed accounts and evidence, no DNA was found to back up my claims. All charges have been dropped, and he continues to see unknowing patients in his practice every day. The justice system isn’t broken, it’s functioning exactly as it was intended—to protect those in power. This needs to change, and it needs to change now. The current system is killing women and survivors.

The civil lawsuit has concluded, and I am not bound by any non-disclosure agreements. However, because Dr. Allen is a litigious amoeba, I am only able to share the factual details about what happened to me that day, such as "Dr. Timothy Allen sexually assaulted me," and "the 59-page police report details five other accounts from different women who have come forward with similar experiences." All other statements and reflections shared in this post, my other writing, and on my Substack are based on my personal experience and perspective, as well as fictionalized elements that are not intended to reference any specific individuals or events. These are the result of my emotional journey, therapeutic work, and creative process, and should not be interpreted as factual accounts beyond what I am legally allowed to share. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

What to Expect Here

This Substack is an extension of that journey. I’ll be sharing personal stories, poems, behind-the-scenes updates on the writing process, and reflections on reclaiming your story and finding strength after trauma. You’ll also get sneak peeks into new pieces as they take shape and insights on navigating life when the world tells you to stay quiet.

I’ll be posting every week, with occasional bonus content and reflections just for subscribers. Some posts will be open to everyone, but subscribers will get access to exclusive writing, early drafts, and opportunities to be part of the creative process.

Join Me in This Journey

If you’re ready to stand up, speak out, and reclaim your own story—or if you just want to support the journey—subscribe now. Your support means the world and helps make this project possible.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. Let’s get strange together.