July 4th is a time for celebration of our Country's independence. As with each passing Holiday, we recognize the families in our community who are grieving their loved ones who died in the shooting and will forever celebrate holidays differently. We also want to acknowledge that our community has many teens and adults who experienced trauma in the shooting and that fireworks can be extremely triggering.
Here are some ways our members can assist those effected to get the support that they need this July:
Predictability - if fireworks may be triggering, avoid public festivities that may include them. Ask neighbors, friends, or others in the places you will be on the 4th (as well as the day before and few days after) if they plan to set fireworks off so that you feel more prepared for when they may occur.
Use your tools - whatever methods help you feel comforted are important to have available - specific music on headphones, a warm blanket, a particular comfort food, or an exercise routine such as yoga or tai chi are some examples.
Get grounded - start in the morning and practice grounding exercises throughout the day. These may include guided imagery, breathing techniques, meditation, or the use of an app such as Insight Timer or Calm.
Contacts - have a friend or family member available to be with you in person or at least by phone. If you are in therapy, talk to your therapist about preparing for fireworks, the holiday itself, and for after the holiday is over. They may assist you in making an emergency plan.
Program Spotlight Nicholas Dworet Memorial Fund
Nicholas Dworet was known for his commitment to swimming. In his memory, his family has started the Swim4Nick organization to bring swimming lessons and the love for swimming to kids in need. From the Swim4Nick website: "We are a certified 501c(3) non profit charity organization focused on helping make the world around us a better, happier place. Our mission is to keep Nick's memory alive by helping kids learn how to be better swimmers! Nick was always helping his friends and teammates be better. He wouldn't have it any other way. We will be hosting swim clinics that will provide FREE instruction to middle and high school aged boys and girls. We also provide financial assistance to needy families that need access to swimming lessons. In addition we plan to provide college scholarships to swimmers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as well as other organizations! Our mission is just beginning and plan to add additional programs to help the local swim community in the future."
PU4P Updates Trauma trained therapists (licensed only) - please take a few moments of your time and join the PU4P referral directory. The community will need services for the long run and we want to make sure they have a good list of trauma therapists to go to. We are getting a lot of referrals through Eagles Haven for the summer. You only need to commit to 2 pro-bono a year. If you're interested in being listed as a therapist in the PU4P directory, please send an email to info@pu4p.org If you can't assist in person, please consider choosing PU4P as your designated charity with The AmazonSmile Foundation. They will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible smile.amazon.com purchases. Tens of millions of products are eligible for donations. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their smile.amazon.com product detail pages. Recurring Subscribe-and-Save purchases and subscription renewals are not currently eligible to generate donations. Remember, only purchases made at smile.amazon.com generate AmazonSmile donations. Don't forget to check our Facebook page for the most current events, updates, and information about PU4P! Thank you for your support of PU4P and your dedication to the Parkland community.
Upcoming Events
Join Lori Layven who is generously donating her time to help lead the PU4P Healing Retreat for Therapists on August 10th. Sign Up to attend here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-healing-retreat-for-therapists-working-with-msd-community-tickets-65272773623?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete Also Lori is offering FREE EFT level 1 and level 2 trainings at the Children's Services Counsel. For more information: Masterclass (Level 1) : https://training.cscbroward.org/pub/class.cfm?uuid=5AF2AC4D-10BE-4D97-BE6C-D7724ACE0B92 Advanced Masterclass (Level 2): https://training.cscbroward.org/pub/class.cfm?uuid=1E998E81-5249-4A40-AE43-163AE19FCB98 Lori's Video Suggestions: Project LIGHT: Rwanda Documentary Trailer Tap Into the Light When I Was Young
As a token of appreciation, Professionals United for Parkland is hosting a FREE healing retreat for therapists who have been working with community members related to the MSD shooting. As professionals ourselves, we understand the importance of self-care, especially when working with within the trauma field. Join us for a day of healing and meditation including EFT groups lead by renowned Dr. Lori Leyden and Healing Through Creative Self Expression by Irene Rodrigues. Date And Time Sat, August 10, 2019 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EDT Location The Faulk Center for Counseling 22455 Boca Rio Road Boca Raton, FL 33433 Workshop Schedule: 9 am: Mindfulness Meditation Group by Dr. Nicole Davis 10 am-12 pm: Dr. Lori Leyden will lead us through a healing EFT practice 12 pm: Lunch will be catered 1-4 pm: Dr. Lori Leyden will lead us through a healing EFT practice 4-5 pm: "Healing Through Creative Self Expression" by Irene Rodrigues Click here for more information! We hope to see you there! Please register ahead of time because space is limited and we need a headcount for the food accommodations.