Animal Rescue, Post tramatic Stress workshop??
Given the tremendous response to the letter I sent to fellow rescuers, I am considering creating a more formal forum for people to share the emotional and mental fallout that many are experiencing.
This would be an workshop/retreat of a sort- perhaps occurring over 1-2 evenings or 1 full day. The focus would be on the grief and rage still felt, issues of reintegrating to the world around us, ways to cope, ways to garner support, what to do now, how to get help, how to remain effective and so forth.
The purpose would be multi- fold:
-to provide a safe and contained forum to express feelings
-to offer a sense of closure
-to re-establish our connection to one another
-to re-energize for the work that is ahead and so important to all of us
-to create a memorial for the animals
Some presentations would be more academic in nature (e.g. a speaker or 2 who have published on grief and animals), while others would be meditative or have a healing component using art and journaling exercises as tools. There would also be opportunities to share feelings and coping strategies.
I am considering doing this in DC/Va area while the HSUS conference is taking place, as many of you will already be traveling to this event May 31-June 4, 2006). I myself will not be attending the HSUS conference but would work around the hours of it and its locale. You do not need to be attending the HSUS event to participate.
Please let me know if this would interest you and if you would be willing to cover costs amounting to somewhere between $65 and $95 per person (depending on amount attending, location, speakers, length of program, etc.).
By replying you are not committed to attend. I just need to get some feedback before embarking on such a project. Also, feel free to share thoughts on what would be useful to you and your fellow rescuers.
Please send feedback, questions, and suggestions to
piapia@adelphia.net
Important Note: This is not therapy and should not be considered as such. While some exercises would certainly be ‘therapeutic,’ they are not meant to replace actual therapy or the professional services of a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional.
I look forward to hearing from you.
In Kinship,
Pia
Pia Salk is a clinical psychologist and co-founded Animal Rescue New Orleans with Jane Garrison and David Meyer.
This would be an workshop/retreat of a sort- perhaps occurring over 1-2 evenings or 1 full day. The focus would be on the grief and rage still felt, issues of reintegrating to the world around us, ways to cope, ways to garner support, what to do now, how to get help, how to remain effective and so forth.
The purpose would be multi- fold:
-to provide a safe and contained forum to express feelings
-to offer a sense of closure
-to re-establish our connection to one another
-to re-energize for the work that is ahead and so important to all of us
-to create a memorial for the animals
Some presentations would be more academic in nature (e.g. a speaker or 2 who have published on grief and animals), while others would be meditative or have a healing component using art and journaling exercises as tools. There would also be opportunities to share feelings and coping strategies.
I am considering doing this in DC/Va area while the HSUS conference is taking place, as many of you will already be traveling to this event May 31-June 4, 2006). I myself will not be attending the HSUS conference but would work around the hours of it and its locale. You do not need to be attending the HSUS event to participate.
Please let me know if this would interest you and if you would be willing to cover costs amounting to somewhere between $65 and $95 per person (depending on amount attending, location, speakers, length of program, etc.).
By replying you are not committed to attend. I just need to get some feedback before embarking on such a project. Also, feel free to share thoughts on what would be useful to you and your fellow rescuers.
Please send feedback, questions, and suggestions to
piapia@adelphia.net
Important Note: This is not therapy and should not be considered as such. While some exercises would certainly be ‘therapeutic,’ they are not meant to replace actual therapy or the professional services of a psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health professional.
I look forward to hearing from you.
In Kinship,
Pia
Pia Salk is a clinical psychologist and co-founded Animal Rescue New Orleans with Jane Garrison and David Meyer.
posted by Rachel H. McKay | 7:06 AM
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