Poem Wellness tip

June 2013
The Healing Center’s mission is to offer sexual abuse survivors and their loved ones
opportunities for healing by providing support, advocacy and community education.
On April 24, The Healing Center, a
program of Aurora Health Care, participated
in Denim Day to end victim-blaming and
honor a woman who was forcibly raped by
her driving instructor. The woman pressed
charges, but the case was dismissed because the chief judge
decided that, “… because the victim wore very, very tight
jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing
the jeans, it was no longer rape, but consensual sex.” Aurora
Health Care raised over $11,000 for its Abuse Response
Fund, which includes The Healing Center, the Sexual
Assault Treatment Center and the S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner) Programs. In connection with a community
service project, jeans were collected for those in need and
hung at Wauwatosa East High School to raise awareness.
Thank you to all who donated and volunteered to make this
day a success!
Support survivo
rs
Team Denim Day
Support sur viv ors
Poem . .
Wellness tip
Ten years ago this very day, my Emmy died and went away.
To a Summerland of joy sans tears, a place where laughter replaces fears.
I wish to touch and see her face, not just with memories in this place.
Did she die alone in the bitter cold?
Did she call my name? I’ll never know.
I’d give my life to have her back and save her from that brutal attack!
Sometimes I’m blessed with dreams of her, but when I awake they become a blur.
I oftentimes cry with anger and hate,
I rage at the gods because of her fate.
Free will rules us, one and all ...
Why did that bastard make this call?
The veil will eventually part, and I shall be with the rest of my heart.
Em will greet me on my dying day, with a twinkle in her eye, she’ll guide my way.
Wear a pedometer
and see how close
you get to the
recommended
10,000 steps
per day. If you
don’t quite make
it, take an extra walk around
the block and climb up the
stairs to your office. A little
goes a long way!
By Paisley Woodside, in honor of her daughter, Emily Willegal
Emily worked at Rock Bottom Brewery as a supervisor, bartender, and server for several
years. She passed away in 2003 as a result of a brutal attack and sexual assault. In her
honor, Rock Bottom Brewery has become an ongoing supporter of The Healing Center and
recently contributed funds to sponsor the “Emily Room,” mentioned in our May newsletter.
Maryann Clesceri, executive director of The Healing Center,
and Cathy Arney, vice president of Pathfinders, were given
The Gwen T. Jackson United Way Community Service Award.
The information presented in this newsletter is intended for general information and educational purposes. It is not intended to replace the advice of your
own physician. Contact your physician if you believe you have a health problem.
W ish l ist
The Healing Center is
always thankful for these
new or gently used items:
• Art supplies – glue sticks, glue
for hot-glue guns, Elmer’s glue,
tacky glue, construction/craft
paper, poster board, artistic foam
board, canvasses, tempera/acrylic
paints, paint brushes, paint pallets,
stamping ink, pastels
• Dry-erase markers
• Books – Courage to Heal
and Victims No Longer
• Candles
• Healing books in Spanish
• Honey
• Kleenex
• Magazine subscriptions
• Office supplies
• Personal hygiene products
• Pick ’n Save gift cards
• Photo print and ink cartridges
• Scissors (large)
• Tea/coffee
• TV trays
• Sewing machine
• Funding for Core vouchers
Topic Nights
Held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., these FREE evening classes focus on various
components of the healing process and are intended for survivors and their loved ones.
The staff presents information, gives handouts and leads exercises regarding a chosen
topic. If interested, you must sign up with Stacy before the scheduled meeting. Topic
Nights are open to all in the community who wish to attend, unless otherwise noted.
Call 414-671-4325 or email Stacy at [email protected] to attend or receive
more information.
June 5
Letting Go of Shame and Self-Blame
Survivors often believe they are
responsible for the sexual trauma they
experienced, even if there was no
possible alternative or escape available
to them at the time. Such self-imposed
judgments may lead to feelings of
shame and guilt. These negative feelings
may be reinforced by non-supportive
professionals, family members or
acquaintances. Reducing sexual traumarelated shame and guilt is an essential
and difficult part of the healing journey.
This Topic Night will offer strategies
to begin reducing shame and guilt by
improving your sense of self-respect and
self-worth.
*Muneebah facilitates this presentation/
discussion. Open to survivors only.
June 12
Creating Healthy Relationships
Sexual trauma survivors sometimes
struggle with creating and maintaining
healthy relationships (friendships and
romantic relationships). We’ll discuss
characteristics of healthy and unhealthy
relationships, and how to use heart,
intuition and mind to establish and
maintain positive connections.
*Mel facilitates this presentation/
discussion for survivors, loved ones
and the general public.
June 26
Boundaries & Exiting Unhealthy
Relationships
130 W. Bruce Street, 4th Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-671-HEAL (4325) or 866-671-HEAL
TheHealingCenter.org
The Healing Center is a program of Aurora
Health Care’s Well Community Programs.
We’ll review characteristics of healthy
and unhealthy relationships, and
utilize specific scenarios to discuss
the setting of boundaries, evaluation
of the relationship, and potential exit
strategies and resources.
*Mel facilitates this presentation/
discussion. Open to survivors only.
July 10
Assertiveness Skills I
Developed in response to your
requests! Part I of II on developing
assertiveness skills in your life. We’ll
learn what assertiveness is (and isn’t),
what each person’s assertive “rights”
are, and how to practice and build
effective assertiveness skills.
*Trish facilitates this presentation/
discussion for survivors, loved ones
and the general public.
July 24
Assertiveness Skills II
Part II on developing assertiveness
skills in your life. We’ll talk about
how other people can challenge our
assertive rights and boundaries, and
how to stand firm in the face of anger,
guilt trips, manipulation, and other
strategies designed to challenge our
assertive practice.
*Trish facilitates this presentation/
discussion for survivors, loved ones
and the general public.
July 31
PTSD II (“complex PTSD”)
Experiencing sexual trauma leads to
a variety of emotional, physical and
mental aftereffects. When the abuse
occurs repeatedly, at a young age,
or is ongoing, the aftereffects can
become tied to our sense of self and
the world. Come learn about complex
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
and how to manage and heal the
symptoms.
*Mel facilitates this presentation/
discussion for survivors, loved ones
and the general public.
x42684 (06/13) ©AHC
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