Re-thinking Haiti: A Richer World

Everywhere we look we see the mass destruction of Haiti. We are called to give, to pray, to donate, raise money or to somehow contribute. Thank God we live in an age where we can reach through electronic media and produce people, food, medical supplies and necessities to respond to disasters. It is all good.

I began thinking about the calls to donate and to help. Sometimes, to me, it sounds like Let's help these poor underlings. It is a sort of one-up position. I wonder if we can reframe this.

Some of you reading this know I am a practitioner of psychodrama and "sociometry" - this funny word that means measuring and building connection. About two years ago I was in a training with one of the world's pioneers in sociometry. I had a few minutes alone with her and I confessed to my great admiration for her.... She tenderly accepted my feelings, and responded with, "In my experience, it is usually mutual."

I shook my head boinkety-boink like a cartoon character. What? What could I possibly have to offer this woman?

Over the next two years I began noticing that no matter how "helping" a relationship can look, there may be mutuality. There is an exchange. Both parties offer something. Both parties contribute something. In a relationship of mutuality, both parties emerge richer in some way.

So, I began wondering if Haiti has a message for us. We know Haiti is one of the poorest regions in our hemisphere, with the highest infant mortality rate (74 per 1,000 live births) and an average life expectancy of 45. Illiteracy is higher than most third world countries at about 55%, and 58% of the population is malnourished, as opposed to 21% of the poorest regions of India. To top it off, they have lived with a brutal military rule for many decades. These are things you already know.

If you would like to join me, here is my prayer: May we all emerge richer. We can contribute schools, building supplies, food, emergency benefits, and helping hands. What can we take in from these incredible people? These are people with strong family connections and sense of modesty. This is a culture that values physical and spiritual health, always using spirituality as "first draw" before Western medicine. These are the poorest people on earth, yet they manage to keep their families together under a matriarchal roof. Under the rubble, we find people of incredible stamina, spirit, and gems of wisdom.

And we're cursing that our favorite black shirt is in the dirty clothes pile.

So, I pray for a relationship based on mutuality, respect, and kinship. It is my hope that we all emerge richer in spirit and with deeper connections to each other.

Warmly,
Connie

Psychodrama Training - A Great Response!

The first psychodrama training in Cleveland was met with enthusiastic participants and the plan for more trainings to follow. Students, mostly mental health professionals, enjoyed participating in exercises that were lively, inviting, and great door-openers for building connections in groups. "I can see how we can use this," was the excited phrase of the day.

Linda Bianchi, LCSW, TEP, national trainer from Washington D.C. facilitated a creative, easy-to-follow, and educational workshop. When she mentioned possibly coming back to Cleveland to facilitate "Action Methods in treating Addiction" she received an overwhelmingly positive response. Linda will be back in the spring, and at least two times during the year to support basic core skill-building.

The psychodrama program will occasionally bring different trainers who specialize in other fields to round-out the skills and interests. Interested students please contact me as we formulate a dynamic training package. Your interest is welcome!

Watch for training in Spring 2010! CEU's for NAADAC, NBCC, NASW, NDT & More...

Creative Juice! Marketing for Wellness Professionals

Connie is offering the use of experiential modalities (psychodrama, art, music, group activities) to wellness professionals at an introductory price in the month of October. "New Age business people are already creative and passionate," she says, "sometimes it more about accessing inner strengths, confidence, or market savvy." Connie spent 22 years in business before change to social work and psychodrama.

She highly recommends Whole-Person Marketing by Karen Carnabucci. See
http://wholepersonmarketing.blogspot.com/