Veteran's Heart Georgia

Veterans’ Writing Workshop Application

Donnie — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:03:53 +0000

Tania Rochelle

Donnie — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 11:44:22 +0000

Tania Rochelle holds an MFA in Creative Writing and is currently finishing her final semester for an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Mercer University. Her primary counseling interests are trauma and addiction, and her goal is to combine writing and counseling to help trauma survivors. Tania’s first book, Karaoke Funeral, won the 2004 Violet Reed Haas Poetry Prize and was published by Snake Nation Press. In 2009, they published her second book of poetry, The World’s Last Bone. Tania has taught creative writing at Portfolio Center, in Atlanta, for over 13 years, and she lives with her family in Marietta.

Sarah Lopez, Ph.D

Donnie — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:14:46 +0000

Sarah Lopez, Ph.D. is a bilingual psychologist in clinical practice in Atlanta since 1982. A seasoned therapist and supervisor, Sarah has had a long time interest in the interface of psychotherapy and spirituality with a particular focus on the cultivation of aliveness and alleviation of unnecessary suffering. Her ongoing commitment extends beyond the office to include social/cultural issues that create and maintain suffering such as injustice, violence, and oppression. An early responder to the mental health needs of the AIDS epidemic, she has co-facilitated a weekly pro bono HIV/AIDS therapy group for 21 years.

Both personally and professionally, Sarah has been a long-time student of universal wisdom teachings and practices that help heal, inform, strengthen and enliven us we traverse the inevitable challenges and unavoidable losses along life’s journey.

R. Blaine Everson, PhD.

Donnie — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:37:07 +0000

R. Blaine Everson, PhD., is a marriage and family therapist in private practice in Athens, Ga., where he has been Clinical Director with The Samaritan Counseling Center since 2007. Previously he worked 6 years at The Frasier Center in Hinesville, Ga., near a major Army base. His practice history includes extensive work with military families and readjustment issues associated with military service, along with a special interest in the recovery from emotional trauma at the familial level. His recently co-authored and edited Families Under Fire: Systemic Therapy With Military Families with Charles R. Figley, published in 2010 by Routledge.

Facilated Drum Circle

Donnie — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:36:59 +0000

VETERAN’S HEART GEORGIA

ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF

A FACILATED DRUM CIRCLE

FOR VETERANS OF ALL WARS

A Group Drumming Music Therapy Experience

Drumming began in ancient times when people gathered in community to drum to uplift the spirit and celebrate life.

Present day drum circles tap in to the mind body connection to bring wellness into our lives

Research indicates many benefits

from group drumming:

Stress Reduction
Concentration and focus
Enhanced immune system
Improved mood states
Creative expression

Contact Bill Liggin, M.A., LMFT

Viet Nam Veteran, Psychotherapist

Trained HealthRhythms® Facilitator

Co-founder of Veteran’s Heart Georgia

404-909-2445

iRest

Donnie — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:31:03 +0000

VETERAN’S HEART GEORGIA

IS OFFERING WEEKLY CLASSES

Integrative Restoration (iRest)

a form of guided meditation that can lead to relaxation and restoration of the nervous system.

iRest has been shown to be helpful in

• decreasing insomnia,

• alleviating anxiety,

• improving mood,

• decreasing the impact of chronic pain, and for

• reducing the risk of relapse from substance abuse

iRest is being utilized with Veterans, Active Duty Soldiers and patients at Walter Reed Hospital as an adjunctive treatment for PTSD

Dennis Kast, certified instructor

Classes begin Thursday, July 7, 2:30-4 pm

at 1240 Clairmont Rd., Decatur

Fill out the form below to request more information and to begin registration.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

Donnie — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:18:21 +0000

MINDFULNESS

is the skill of being purposefully aware, focused, and less reactive to our thoughts and emotions

Join us for 8 weekly classes

and a Retreat day to

learn how you can mobilize the resources of your mind and body to discover and maintain

your own inner resilience

We will work to develop your ability to

• calm and steady the mind,

• process disturbing thoughts and emotions with compassion and acceptance,

• enhance personal relationships,

• increase energy and enthusiasm for life,

• and to find peace.

*CALL NOW TO REGISTER for the next class

**Classes for spouses, partners, family members available

Kaye Coker, LCSW 770-338-7463

www.mountainheartcounseling.com

Katrina Bergbauer

Donnie — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:09:51 +0000

Katrina is a Georgia native and Decatur resident and the daughter of a retired career army soldier and Viet Nam war veteran. She is a chemist managing a private research and development company and also teaches at Agnes Scott College as Adjunct Professor of Chemistry.

In the fall of 2008, after reading War and the Soul and meeting its author, Dr. Edward Tick at a VHG listening circle, Katrina was strongly drawn to learn more about her father’s service. This led her to travel to Viet Nam with Dr. Tick, and a group of veterans, family members and others in November 2009. Katrina hopes to draw upon her experiences from the Viet Nam journey to serve those suffering from the effects of war.

At the heart of Veteran’s Heart…

Donnie — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:51:34 +0000

Just Listening

Veteran’s Heart Georgia invites veterans, their families, and the larger community to come together to listen, learn, and collectively address the wounds of war. When we listen to our veterans and their families we are part of a process focused on setting things right, opening the door for a full return and healing. We share our veterans’ burden by willingly and intentionally holding difficult truths and intense emotion.

We call our meetings Just Listening.

Webster’s dictionary defines “Just” as right and fair, making things right, well deserved, honorable, conscientious. Another definition of ‘Just” is simply, exactly, totally, truly, precisely. “Listening” is defined as hearing with intention, hearing attentively.

How do we listen attentively with intention to set things right, fair and honorable for veterans and their families? Is this enough? Do I know enough? Understandably we worry if what we have to offer will really be helpful.

The good news is we already have at our disposal all we need… listening attentively is a powerful way of connecting with another human being. When we set our intention to be present, to listen in order to learn and understand, we offer a gift that helps break isolation, builds support and community.

We do not need professional training, knowledge or answers. We don’t need to know how to fix it!!

We need only to learn to stay open, receptive and caring. We listen without interrupting the speaker, resisting our impulse to give advice, to try to “make it better”. Allowing the other to be fully heard is a powerful gift to the speaker, and a skill that can be learned and practiced with generosity.

Compassionate healing and justice are at the core of the spiritual aspiration of all faith traditions. Mindful presence is the heart of Buddhist meditation practice, compassionate, non-judgmental healing at the core of Christianity and Tikkun Olam, Repair of the World, is a central intention of Judaism.

Deep listening seeks to see through the masks of fear, indifference, hostility, to the sacredness of each person and their wounds.

The capacity to listen with compassion, empathy, and presence needs to be cultivated. Practice waters the seeds within us and increases our awareness of ourselves and others.

Bare attention and listening is simple but not easy. It can be difficult. Once we set our intention to listen to the suffering of others there are challenges along the path. We hear of terrible suffering, injustice, unspeakable acts, wells of grief and we get uncomfortable. Our discomfort directs us to action. We want to fix it, give advice, minimize or discount what we have heard, judge it or dismiss it. If we are uncomfortable enough we will want to avoid, shut our emotions down, and leave the situation. Others’ stories remind us of our own story…feelings or memories arise …we want to interrupt to tell our story…

In our Just Listening circles we practice mindful presence and compassionate listening. We develop our capacity for empathy. We increase our awareness of our own reactions, judgments and fears, and learn to calm down. We use our breath as an anchor, a place to return our attention when we need to calm down, and get refocused in the present. We learn to speak from our present experience. As we grow in community we find we can stay stable, calm and present . Our circle becomes a huge holding space out of suffering, for joy and connection to grow. We can stay safe but not untouched. Through these practices we grow our ability to simply listen and this simple act goes a long way towards healing

We meet to practice “Just Listening” on the 2nd Sunday of each month. When you sign up for our newsletter (see sidebar on right) you will be sent a reminder prior to the meetings.

Original Visionaries

Donnie — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:32:23 +0000

Dick Bathrick

Jesse Harris Bathrick

Stacie Smith

Sarah Thorsen

Elizabeth L’abate

Shawn Nelson