I am a trauma therapist who has felt my own trauma pain as well as my client's. This is honoring both in a way only poetry can do.
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Poetry and the written word has always flowed when I feel something deeply. This is no exception and I aim to embody and validate not only the pain of the trauma; but also to exemplify the Phoenix rising from the trauma ashes. Too many people are told how to feel and how to react when they have had trauma. This speaks to the pain and the healing simultaneously. It gives hope.
Where do you find inspiration?I am working with very traumatized clients in my therapy private practice. This, at times, has caused me to revisit my own pain. I believe it is high time to emphasize the plight of so many, both those who have spoken about it and those who cage it deeply inside. It is not uncommon to hear the outside world minimize or offer trite advice. The process of "getting over it" as many admonish can be achieved by validating one's pain, experience, and ultimate strength. Thus, this piece's purpose.
What would you do with $25,000?I would use it to continue to see trauma clients that cannot afford to pay. I currently see multiple people on a pro bono basis and have found this need is growing. It would help to offset this expense and would also enable me to expand this practice. This piece was written by me 38 years ago in a college class and still rings true today for me and for many. This proves the universality and timeless nature of pain and the need highlight.
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