Part of the Taking Her Power Back series: stories of women facing fear, finding confidence, and building strength one step at a time.
When we first started this journey, silence was safety. A quiet range, no distractions, no surprises. But confidence grows in layers, and sometimes, the next layer shows up before you expect it.
For this session, we met before the range opened so she could have the same sense of calm we’ve built together A quiet bay, just her and me. But this time, local law enforcement was in the next bay over completing their qualification training. It wasn’t planned. The gunfire was muffled but constant, and for the first time since her panic attack in that first session, she was exposed to gunshots from others again.
I could see it affected her, the unpredictable timing, the uncertainty of not knowing when the next shot would happen. Those are exactly the moments that used to send her body into fight or flight. But this time, she didn’t freeze. She pushed through it.
We stayed focused on our training, and I talked her through the noise to keep her grounded in the moment. Each round she fired was a choice to stay present. That’s what real control looks like. Not pretending fear doesn’t exist, but deciding it doesn’t get to take over.
We started with my Glock44, this time without a suppressor. No training wheels this time, just her, the gun, and the goal. She wanted to spend more time on Glocks because that’s what her boyfriend owns. As she fired, the rhythm returned. Slow breathing, steady grip, and a focus that stayed sharp even through the sounds from next door.
When she was ready, we revisited the Glock 42 in .380 ACP. The first shot had more recoil than she remembered, and she paused, breathed through it, and then pushed forward. Her grouping was much tighter than the week prior. Every session, her confidence is stronger, her movements more natural, her presence calmer.
Having a Goal
What continues to inspire me most is her determination. She came to me with fear rooted deep. A fear of guns and a fear of them being used against her. But she also came to me with a goal in mind, surprise her boyfriend on their anniversary with a date at the range. She’s training with purpose, proving to herself that strength grows when you face what once scared you most.
She wants to feel comfortable, capable, and confident enough to share something he enjoys, and maybe even outshoot him. (Honestly, I think she will.)
That goal gives her extra motivation every week. It’s no longer just about overcoming fear; it’s about living beyond it. She’s already talking about future training sessions for the two of them together.
I’m amazed every time I watch her step into that bay. From the woman who once collapsed in fear at the sound of a gunshot to the one now training next to law enforcement, holding her own, focused, and composed. That’s power reclaimed.
This is why I love what I do. Watching women take back their power, one choice, one shot, one brave moment at a time. Fear feels massive until you start to face it, and then you realize it gets smaller every time you pull the trigger with confidence.
Stay tuned for the final post in her journey. The moment all that hard work, trust, and confidence come together on the range.
📖 Catch up on the full series:
Part 1: A Student’s Journey
Part 2: Building Confidence One Caliber at a Time
✨ Every story is a step toward taking her power back.
💡 If you’ve been holding back because of fear or past experiences, know that you don’t have to walk this journey alone. With patience, understanding, and step-by-step training, confidence is possible.
👉 Contact me and let’s take the first step together.