Friday and Saturday, January 22-23, 2010

The ArtReach Foundation invites active duty military and veterans with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and/or mild Traumatic Brain Injury from all wars to participate in a Free 2 day creative arts healing group workshop. The ArtReach Foundation is an Atlanta based non-profit that has a ten year history of working with traumatized children and adults in war zones. In 2009 we began a new initiative for our troops and veterans called ArtReach: Project America. The Georgia Pilot Project for Soldiers & Veterans is the initial phase of Project America (www.artreachprojectamerica.com).

Program Description and Goals: Our January Workshop will include 2 full days of integrating the therapeutic creative arts (drama, art, movement and music) in group process led by creative arts therapists, mental health professionals and veterans. The goals of the workshop are to promote reconnection and healing with one’s creative Self that may have been numbed or disconnected as a result of PTSD and/or mild TBI. This work is guided and modeled in the “safe space” of a small group setting.

Participants: This group is open to men and women with combat/deployment histories who are either on active duty, in the Guard, Reserves, or Veterans. Requirements for participation include: attendance for entirety of the program; signed release by participant; and completion of pre- screening phone interview and a short post-workshop interview (at end of second workshop day). Excluded from enrollment are veterans with active substance dependence, current suicidality, moderate to severe cognitive deficits, and/or severe physical impairment. Participation in the workshop will remain confidential and no records will be given to third parties without participant knowledge/consent.

Faculty: Group Leaders, Stephanie Wise ATR, LCAT and Emily Nash, LCAT, ArtReach Core Faculty, are licensed/certified in their respective disciplines and are trained to work with soldiers and veterans. Additional group leaders include veterans, both combat and non-combat, and licensed mental health professionals who have undertaken training in the ArtReach Method and in group psychotherapeutic process. Inclusion of veteran Peer-Trainers is an important element in our treatment model. This workshop will include 2 ArtReach faculty and ArtReach Trainers who will act as participant-observers as they complete their training.

Workshop Details: Fri. and Sat. January 22-23, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily. The cost for veterans is free, and lunch will be provided. The location will be at St. Bede’s Church, Henderson Mill Road, Tucker, GA, 30084. Public transportation and free parking are available. Transportation to the workshop is not included. Workshop limited to 15. We will maintain a wait list should we receive late cancellations. Note: in light of the small number of veterans who will be able to participate in these workshops please confirm your commitment to attendance of complete 2 day workshop.

For more information: If you are interested in enrolling, call The ArtReach Foundation at (404) 264-9349. Leave your name, number, and time convenient to call back and one of our therapist/screeners will return your call to discuss your enrollment and answer questions about the workshop. For more information on our program please visit our website at www.artreachprojectamerica.com. We look forward to working with you and thank you for your service to our country.

NOTE: DEADLINE FOR WORKSHOP REGISTRATION IS MONDAY JANUARY 18, 2010

info@artreachfoundation.org

This Wall of Honor is the initiative of two of our VHG members: a friend of a veteran, and a mother of an active duty soldier/daughter of a veteran. They and we ask you to reflect on all those whom you know whose service has touched your heart, and to select one or more of them to place on our Wall of Honor in recognition of their sacrifice.

Our Wall of Honor is maintained on our Veteran’s Heart Georgia website by one of our veteran members. We enroll each veteran by name, branch of service, rank, unit affiliation, dates served (if known), and form of service (Active Duty, Reserves, Guard). Our Wall has two categories, one for Deceased Veterans and one for Living Veterans.

Completion of an Enrollment Form, either online or by mail (coming soon) is required to enroll each veteran’s name and information. We ask for a donation of any amount for each veteran enrolled, which will be used to support and maintain this website and other VHG programs.

We are excited to be able to present a series of interviews with Edward Tick, author of War and The Soul, right here on our website! The series, The Warrior Returns, begins with Part 1: PTSD is a soul wound. This is made possible through the generosity of Jenny Andrews of notalone.com.  Each interview will run here for 30 days, and then will be archived on our site.

Dr. Tick will be here with us beginning January 29, 2010 for a weekend of special events. We are being hosted by the Shepherd Spinal Center, which houses the innovative Project Aware, a unique program of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation treatment for military personnell who have brain and spinal cord injuries which occurred while they were serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

http://www.veteransheartgeorgia.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Edward_Tick_Story.mp3