Transforming Trauma:

Healing Ourselves, Healing Our World

Kathy Revtyak, LCSW

Kathy Braun, SSSF

Andy Uribe-Sanders, RN, WHNP-BC

Arlene Woelfel, SSSF, LCSW

An Introduction

CAPACITAR

Mind-body-spirit wellness, practiced

preventatively and to transform trauma

Complements traditional mental health

and health treatment

Based on ancient Eastern traditions

combined with modern, Western

knowledge from health and mental

health fields.

Builds on inherent wisdom of the

individual

Promotes body literacy

Grassroots, popular education model

provides accessible, replicable tools

Colombia

Honduras

CAPACITAR is an international network

of solidarity and empowerment.

Capacitar is a Spanish word meaning to empower,

to encourage, to bring each other to life.

National University Rwanda

CAPACITAR began in 1988 as a response to war, disasters and

trauma in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua.

Simple wellness practices were taught to help grassroots people deal

with the poverty, addiction, violence and traumatic stress of their lives.

Nicaragua

Capacitar collaborates with groups in 35 countries

in the Americas, Africa, Europe, the Middle East & Asia.

WHAT WE TEACH Capacitar offers simple effective

wellness skills such as:

• Body movement

• Acupressure for pain & stress

• Fingerholds for emotions

• Breathwork & visualization

• Emotional Freedom Tapping.

Northern Ireland: Trauma Counselors

USA: Domestic Violence Rwanda: HIV/Trauma

El Paso Detention Camp: Workshop for Detainees

CAPACITAR PROGRAMS

• Multicultural Wellness Education

• Trauma Healing & Transformation

• Healing Ourselves, Healing Our World Workshops

• Capacitar for Children, Schools, Teachers & Families

• Living in Wellness Programs for Caregivers, Families

& Persons with HIV/AIDS, Cancer or Addiction

• Retreats & Team Leadership Development.

Ireland Swaziland El Salvador

POPULAR EDUCATION vs THERAPY Capacitar’s popular education approach

complements community mental health and

therapeutic programs. We give people simple

tools that they can use for themselves, their

families and communities. Capacitar methods

have been adapted for use in many cultures

and countries.

Nigeria: HIV/AIDS Groups

Haiti: Church Health Clinic

Capacitar’s Approach to Trauma Healing

Cognitive Brain: functions as the seat

of thought, images, language, logic and

memory.

Emotional Brain: (the inner brain—

limbic and reptilian brains) is the seat of

emotional responses, autonomic systems,

automatic physiological responses of the

systems of the body.

To heal trauma, stress or depression it is

necessary to work with the emotional

brain via the body, instead of only using

therapies that impact the cognitive brain.

—Dr. David Servan Schreiber, The Instinct to Heal

The Instinct to Heal

www.instincttoheal.org

www.heartmath.com

CHAOS—With stress,

anxiety and depression, the

rhythm of the heart is chaotic

or irregular.

COHERENCE—with

practices that promote

wellbeing, compassion and

respect, the rhythm of the

heart has a coherent pattern.

With Acupressure and Bodywork: there are changes in the emotional brain

with lessening of activity in the areas of pain and fear. —David Servan Schreiber

The Instinct to Heal

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM & STRESS

Positive emotions stimulate the

development of “killer cells” of the

immune system which are the primary

line of defense of the organism.

Stress, anxiety and depression inhibit

their growth and development. The

photo shows killer cells attacking a

cancer cell.

Capacitar practices promote health

and wellbeing enhancing the immune

system response.

Servan Schreiber, The Instinct to Heal

Capacitar Works with

Heart/Brain Coherence

Energy practices awaken the

natural instinct to heal promoting

balance and wellbeing:

Tai Chi, Pal Dan Gum

Fingerholds

Emotional Freedom Tapping

Acupressure

Visualization & Breathwork

Massage and Bodywork

Buddha’s Brain, Hanson, Mendius

Heart Math Institute

TRAUMATIC STRESS & COMPASSION FATIGUE:

• PTSD: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Vicarious Trauma, Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Trauma

• CTSD: Continuing Traumatic Stress Disorder

Byumba, Rwanda:

Refugee Camp

JRS Workshop Goma,

Refugee Camp, Congo DRC

Los Angeles Diocese:

Restorative Justice

Chaplains’ Retreat

Capacitar en la Frontera

works to bring healing to

people affected by violence,

poverty, and trauma on the

US/Mexico border and

to encourage bi-national

support and solidarity

among people of Texas,

New Mexico and Mexico.

Juarez, Mexico

Outreach of Capacitar en la Frontera

Pilot Programs:

1. El Paso Detention Center

2. Department of Juvenile Probation (in collaboration with CSNSF)

3. In development—Detention Centers of El Paso Co. Sheriff’s

Department

On-Going Initiatives, Projects and Presence

1. Non-profit agencies (women’s centers, homeless shelters,

emergency services for children)

2. Schools (EPCC, school districts)

3. Faith-based entities

4. Grassroots organizations (including human rights efforts)

Outreach in El Paso Detention Center offers Spiritual

Counseling services integrated with Capacitar practices for

detainees impacted by violence and trauma.

A Pilot Program in collaboration with the

Department of Homeland Security.

1 ½ years completed;

2 volunteer Chaplains, trained in Capacitar practices;

4- week cycles.

DHS Detention Project

Goals: To improve the health and

general well-being of detainees

To improve the mental health and

capacity of detainees to cope and

to transform their situation

To provide wellness skills for

stress and trauma that detainees

will be able to use in their current

situation and their future lives

Objectives:

Detainees participating in the 4-

week program will be able to

share best practices within the

detainee population and, in the

future, within their families and

communities.

Through regular use of the

practices on a daily basis,

detainees will lessen symptoms

related to stress, anxiety and

depressions.

Personal Outcomes: self-reported change before and after program

Personal Outcomes: self-reported change

before and after program

Qualitative Outcomes One woman, “Laura,” had lost custody of her

children and was awaiting deportation, but

with Capacitar tools she could take off her

mask and live with peace and inner

freedom.

Other participants reported that the practices

helped alleviate headaches, insomnia and

nightmares.

Other Outcome Measures

Work in the

Colonias Efforts to support

wellness and trauma-

healing through biweekly

groups

Led by Sisters Kathy Braun

and Elsa Canan, SSSF,

participants practice Tai Chi

and Holds

Outreach in Cd. Juarez Ongoing, weekly Capacitar practice

groups support individuals and

families who come together through

schools, grassroots & non-profit

organizations, and parishes.

Capacitar has been training

professionals, grassroots leaders,

and committed community members

in Capacitar practices since 2008.

Led by Hma. Maria Antonia

Aranda, IHM, participants

discuss theory and practice

Holds, Pal Dan Gum and the

Leadership Dance.

Support to Human

Rights Workers &

Groups in Cd. Juarez

In the wake of the ongoing

violence in northern Mexico,

Capacitar en la Frontera has

been offering trainings for

human rights workers, and the

agencies and communities

they serve.

Capacitar practices include

techniques that benefit all

sectors of the community and

that promote self-care and

wellness for the caregiver.

Care for the Caregiver We know that those who accompany survivors of trauma have the

possibility of developing Compassion Fatigue or Secondary Trauma.

Capacitar trainings teach caregivers techniques that promote wellness

and support them in establishing safe boundaries.

Pat Cane, PhD, Capacitar

Foundress and Director

provides a training focused on

self-care to human rights

workers in Cd. Juarez.

Tasters Half-day workshops are

provided to community

groups, systems and

agencies to develop

leadership.

Many groups are

interested in self-care

practices for their staff

and volunteers.

Led by Andrea Uribe, RN,

and Kathy Revtyak, LCSW,

participants at a Tepeyac

taster practice Pal Dan Gum

and the Leadership Dance.

Building a

Binational

Leadership Team

and Expanding a

Growing Network

Solidarity**Empowerment**Wellness**Healing&TransformingTrauma

Tai Chi

Warm Up

Rocking

Circle of Light

Globe of Light

Shower of Light

The Wise Person

Push-Pull

Flying through the

Air

Passing Clouds

Namaste

Finger Holds

To Manage Strong Emotions

Accupressure Points

for Traumatic Stress

Depression:

Crown of Head

Forehead between

eyebrows

Base of Skull at Sides

of Head

Anxiety and Crisis:

Outer Wrist

Top of Shoulders

Sore Spot

Point Beneath Nose

Related Resources

David Servan Schrieber, MD, The Instinct to Heal

John Travis, MD, WellnessWorkbook,

Daniel Goleman, PhD, Emotional Intelligence

, Daniel Amen, MD Heal Your Brain, Heal Your Life

For information about EFT, see work of Gary Flynt, PhD,

Emotional Freedom Technique

Peter Levine, PhD, Waking the Tiger,

Judith Orloff, MD, Emotional Freedom

Contact Us

Capacitar en la Frontera

Capacitar.frontera@gmail.com

Capacitar International

www.capacitar.org

Multicultural Wellness

Education Training,

2012-2014 Initiates

November 10-11 in El Paso

January 23-24 in Cd. Juarez