Teri Arana
LICSW, PLLC

​A collaborative pilot project with Long Beach Veterans Administration Combat Trauma/PTSD Center. Participants ranged in age from their mid-twenties to mid-seventies. Over the course of 3-weeks acceptance emerged as a common theme. Perhaps forgiveness represents an intangible or unreachable destination, and movement toward acceptance is the salve to initiate the healing process . . . 

 

"Forgiveness" seeks to illuminate the healing power of art through the use of collage and storytelling. Each displayed bowl was created by one combat veteran, and contains a single letter of forgiveness – either forgiveness of self or forgiveness of others. 

 

The journey toward forgiveness from trauma is often long, painful, and solitary. During this experience, a cacophony of negative feelings and beliefs, including shame, unworthiness, fear, and guilt often converge to inhibit the healing process.

 

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