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

IS OFFERING WEEKLY CLASSES

in

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

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

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.

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.

Kaye Coker

Bill Liggin

Bill Nixon

Donnie Apted

Dick Bathrick

Jesse Harris Bathrick

Stacie Smith

Sarah Thorsen

Elizabeth L’abate

Shawn Nelson

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.