Ashlar Programs began nearly thirty years ago with a small writing class lead by Andrea Steffens, a poet and a clinically trained Jungian psychotherapist. Over time, she found in every class a pattern of stories emerging with great predictably once participants relaxed, focused and drew inward in safety- difficult truths never spoken before, stories of traumatic events and conditions. Over time, Ashlar expanded its mission, integrating trauma resolution processes to respond in a variety of formats to The Story that Waits to be Told. read more...
While Expressive Arts have always been part of our work, we now give them a place of their own. This recognizes that working with art materials extends language in ways different than writing or telling and is often more appropriate and culturally sensitive in terms of the age and cultural context of the artist. read more...
The majority of us have unexplored and unresolved trauma. This truth emerged with predictable regularity in our workshops. In response to this, we learned and teach evidence based trauma resolution techniques that are woven into the writing work . Many studies these days speak to the efficacy of writing to reduce or resolve traumatic stress symptoms that can negatively impact our physical health and emotional well-being. read more...
Our mission is to use the personal and collective story for expression, community building, bridging difference and in the process, creating a format and opportunity to heal PTSD. With a culturally sensitive, scientifically grounded approach, our facilitators are trained to educate, lead workshops and train lay-facilitators in Narrative Arts -- We believe the most underutilized resource in our communities are its people. This belief led us to work at the grassroots level.
This an inspiring piece... How many of us use the common sense we developed/learned
as mothers (parents)or nurturers in general,in those situations where as
professionals there is great need for creative problem solving?
Please send your favorite pieces that relate to our mission -- even if vaguely. This
I just returned from Germany where I experienced applied Narrative Exposure Therapy at the University of Konstanz. This method has been successfully administered to traumatized people in "hot spots" around the world for years.
As I am reading: HEALING INVISIBLE WOUNDS, paths to hope and recovery in a violent world by Richard Mollica, MD, I find myself deeply touched -- over and over -- and wishing this were required reading by?... whatever Authority others (who have not read this book) accept. This may read like a book review but "hold it" gently in gratitude that people like this man exist.
“There is a brokenness out of which comes the Unbroken,
Shatteredness out of which comes the Unshatterable.
There is a Sorrow beyond all grief
which leads to Joy
Recreating the conditions under which generation after generation of Americans secured a future for their children and communities
Treating the Cause, Not the Illness [OPINION]
The New York Times, David Bornstein, 07/28/2011
Psycho-neurobiology tells us that traumatic stress from an incident or living in a highly stressful environment or under highly stressful in conditions puts our bodies into survival – fight or flight -- which is the sympathetic nervous system at work.
Many CBC listeners were chagrined to learn last week that radio personality Shelagh Rogers is taking a break from her national morning program, Sounds Like Canada. Although Ms. Rogers is rumored to be exhausted from hassles with CBC management, the ebullient radio host insisted, “It is not a stress leave. It is because I have high blood pressure."
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