Treatment Methodology

The White Raven Center (WRC) utilizes a methodology that has demonstrated over the past decade to have a profound positive impact on healing trauma. The majority of clients report symptomatic change after the initial session. Practitioners have learned that deep healing results when participants relax and focus on their breathing. This guided process allows for a shift in consciousness and for body memories to surface. Clients are supported as they release intense emotions that are connected to memories of traumatic life events. A re-framing process occurs once the emotional energy charge is released and gives clients a profound sense of inner peace. Individuals no longer react to present life experience as victims. This process frees the frozen psychological state imposed by PTSD and gives participants a renewed sense of inner well being.

The primary treatment modality used at the White Raven Center accomplishes in a very short period of time what traditional western style talk-therapy may produce when deep emotions are shared over a long period of time. Once deep emotions are released, clients are encouraged to recall painful memories and are assisted by skilled therapists to gain understanding and re-frame past traumas. The use of the group setting or circle which is traditional to Native people and is practiced in modern psycho-therapy arenas supports the blending of treatment modalities. For example clients may participate in a family sculpturing exercise to help educate, heal and understand unhealthy family dynamics (western modality) and support an individual by participating in a traditional grieving or cradling ceremony (Native American healing practice).

Facilitators draw from a large tool kit of Western, Eastern and Indigenous teachings and techniques as they intuitively assess the needs of each client in the moment. A client’s spiritual beliefs are always taken into consideration and honored before offering prayer and/or ceremony. Drumming, singing and even dancing are incorporated into weekend group sessions. Personal ceremonies such as welcoming home ceremonies for veterans, coming of age ceremonies when they are a missing part of a person’s development, cradling ceremonies for a client who never experienced the nurturing and love they deserved as a baby and wailing ceremonies for those who carry the grief and loss of culture throughout the generations, are incorporated into the healing weekend intensives.