I want to personally thank everyone who donated funds, time, and energy to Therapeutic Spiral International. You have helped bring the Therapeutic Spiral ModelTM to many people around the world that would not have been able to fund our services: survivors of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland, post-apartheid racial healing in South Africa, and donated trainings to mental health professionals in mainland China.

I want to directly thank all the TSI team members who have donated many hours of service to our teams in order for scholarships to be offered. The true heart of the work comes from each and everyone of you who have generously given of your time in the first 5 years of Therapeutic Spiral International. It is a pleasure and an honour to call you team members and colleagues: Mimi, Cathy W., Roberta, Linda, Laurel, Cathy N., Patti, Colleen, Kathy A., Monica, James, Andy, Roy, Viola, Christine, Fiona, Martha, Charmaine, Mario, Karen D., Karen C., Celina, Judy, Penny, Ning-Shing, Nien-Hwa, Su-Fong, Gye-Toung, WenChun, Huan-Li, Chip, Enid, Pat, Aly, Bernard, Roger, Kamala, Vivian, Colette, and anyone who I have missed.

Unfortunately, we have only been able to get one grant during the five years, from the University of Virginia that created our Action Against Trauma program that brought TSM to the community. And donations never matched the need. So we closed our doors as a nonprofit institute on February 28th. This means that there are no longer any tax benefits from any money you might donate for scholarships in 2005.

As of March 1, 2005, Therapeutic Spiral International became a private, self-funded training institute. There is no change in the actual training program, but only to the financial legal structure of TSI, which is now a limited liablity corporation. Currently, I am the only member of the LLC but it can be open to other partners joining over time.

Please see the calendar page for changes in the sponsorship of all personal growth workshops. TSI will no longer sponsor any direct services to trauma services except for self-care and wellness workshops for professionals. TSI will continue to provide training teams for clinicians seeking TSM workshops for their clients or consumers of direct services. Thus, you won't notice much change in the training, education, and direct services offered to the global community, but how it is funded will be different.

The need to heal the on-going effects of world-wide trauma is immense.
Even when the physical needs of trauma survivors have been met, there are deep psychological and emotional wounds that need to be healed. Without this healing, trauma is passed from generation to generation within cultures and amongst neighboring communities.

Therapeutic Spiral International builds teams of local professionals to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, break the cycles of trauma and generate new hope. The work is demanding and the rewards are enduring.

As a registered charity, TSI seeks funding to support our work to globally heal the psychological effects of trauma. Please support our ongoing work. All donations are tax deductible as we are charitable organization under 501.C3 of the IRS standards.

Success Stories

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a very common diagnosis. It is also one that people often keep private due to the nature of the violence that caused post-traumatic stress and the disturbing symptoms they suffer as a result.

I am sure that each of you intimately knows at least two people who have either been diagnosed with PTSD or meet the criteria for that disorder which include recurrent intrusive images and thoughts of the trauma, distressing dreams, flashbacks and efforts to avoid reminders of the trauma. They may be neighbors, family, friends of your children, colleagues, your own teachers - and so many others. Whole communities experience PTSD with instances of school shooting or serial murders. Entire cultures are raised in poverty, neglect and abuse, never knowing anything better than living life with PTSD. The cycle of violence is thus passed from parent to child, from one race to another, from one nation to another in an unending cycle.

Thus the need for our services at Therapeutic Spiral International has never been greater.

[Read more ...]
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"Spiral Jewelry" from Blue Sky Designs!

In wanting to help provide support for a such a great organization like Therapeutic Spiral International (TSI), Blue Sky Designs has a special line of jewelry made with an array of spirals to represent the Therapeutic Spiral. Every necklace and pair of earrings was made with love and sincerity to bring the wearer added strength and support through good and hard times. Most pieces of jewelry are made with at least one semi-precious stone, each having it's own special healing and empowering qualities. These will be listed on included labels that identify the stones.

25% of all proceeds will be donated to TSI (minimum of $5 per purchase). Taxes are included, but there will be an additional shipping and handling fee of $3.00 per order. If you wish to donate more money than the cost of the jewelry, that amount will be given to TSI in addition to the 25% of the jewelry purchase.

Please feel free to specify colors, types of stones, preference of gold filled or sterling silver, or designs to be used in making jewelry for you or someone you love. I also make a variety of gifts, including sun catchers, eye glass holders and wine glass identifyers, and do a lot of commission and bridal party work. Earrings range from $14-18, and necklaces range from $26-45, depending on materials and types of stones used.

If you are interested in purchasing spiral jewelry or gifts while donating to TSI at the same time, please contact Darcy Baker, of Blue Sky Designs, at darbake@planetcomm.net.

Each time we hold a workshop, many survivors seek scholarships to attend as they are without the financial resources to do so. You can always help by making an individual contribution to our scholarship funds.

Margaret Mahaney Hudgins Memorial for Mothers

Kate started this fund in 2000 in honour of her mother who died that year. Resources donated to this fund support women who seek to stop the legacy of violence by not passing it onto their children. Funds provide scholarships for mothers with a demonstrated financial need to attend personal growth workshops for their own restoration from past trauma experiences. Kate says of her mother: "She taught me that I had a responsibility to give back to the world what has been given to me. I feel the work of TSI allows me to give back the healing and connection I have found in my own life.". Please contribute to this fund or start a memorial to someone in your life to allow
women who are mothers seeking to change thier lives and the lives of their families. Five scholarships were given in 2002.

The Dorothy Hudgins Richardson Fund for International Students

This fund was started with funding from Kate in 2002 in honour of her :"Aunt Dorothy" who was the good-enough mother and mentor throughout her life. Dorothy Richardson touched many people with her gentle and loving spirit, an angel on earth. While a traveller in her younger years, in her last decade, she often told Kate to "stay home and let people come to you" . Donations to this fund provide support for international students who are seeking training in the Therapeutic Spiral Model to bring to trauma survivors in the international community. Two clinicians from South Africa received scholarship to attend the Leadership Institute in 2002. Donated teams offered services in Northern Ireland and South Africa as well. Help create an international community that can make a difference in today's world.

Action Against Trauma

This grant funded program was matched by individual donations by the members of the TSI board and local philanthropist, Roberta Williamson. The ripple effect from the 21 participants who attended this community-based program continue this month as many from the group come together for a focus group, continued research, and a day of restoration. You can donate to individual projects by contacting the Director of Training to learn about this year's programs in Northern Ireland.


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