The Art of Healing Trauma: Finding Joy through Creativity, Spirituality, and Forgiveness

by Alison Perry-Davies

Overview

Over the past six decades, Ali Perry-Davies has learned many lessons about how trauma can impact our lives and what we can do to to bring balance and joy and thrive in a world that suggests surviving is enough. In this book, she shares her own history with trauma and the long and winding path she has taken toward healing. Ali's studies have taken her deeper into understanding the science behind how trauma impacts our bodies and how creativity can bring healing. Years of study about minds, emotions, and spirituality have been combined with her own experience of forgiveness and creativity, to guide the reader on the healing path. She shows how trauma can show up in our lives and ways to combat triggers, with many creative outlets and tools such as meditation, relaxation, and mindfulness. She has found ways to heal and love and not just to accept our differences but celebrate them.

Through it all, she shares an important message: There is always hope; you too can find love, peace, balance and so much joy!

 "Ali's story is raw and captivating. I had a visceral response as I turned each page of her book. A life of tragedy that shakes you to your core, and then inspires anyone who dares to follow her journey of self discovery. An amazing, fearless, inspiring, beautiful woman warrior whom selflessly becomes an open book.'

Francis Dick Kwakwaka'wakw artist

 

"Based on the author's life-long learning, including study and front-line work with trauma survivors, she shows how creative expression may offer a path to healing. The book is filled with insights and suggestions for engaging in this creative healing process that may be useful to trauma survivors as well as therapists who are looking at fresh approaches to supporting their clients."

Marion F. Ehrenberg, Ph.D., Psychologist

 

"Ali brilliantly weaves threads of creativity, courage, love, honesty, forgiveness, and most important of all, healing, through her story. This book will lead others to their path of healing through creativity - a true gift."

Janelle Breese Biagioni, RPC, MPCC-s

CEO, CGB Centre for Traumatic Life Losses

 

"This book will be an inspiration for those who are walking their own dark night of the soul and need encouragement to believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that it is worth every step. Highly recommend!"

Rik Leaf Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Author "Four Homeless Millionaires"

"Ali courageously, and against all odds, brightly shines light on the darkness with honest vulnerability and love. A true wisdom keeper and storyteller, she takes you along on her inspiring journey to healing. Her strength and authenticity will resonate deeply and touch your heart like it has mine."

Gwen Rowe - Heart and Sole Wellness

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781777883010
Publisher:	Ali Way Art Publishing
Publication date:	10/07/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	194
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Ali has been using art as part of her healing journey-both personally andprofessionally-for over forty years. She has been writing songs, poems, and stories and is abest-selling author. She has embraced painting and photography as avenues to release traumaand bring hope.Ali is trained in several counselling modalities including the humanistic approach, basiccounselling skills, and Elijah House training. She has diplomas in both theology and ministryand worked in ministry for over twenty years. Ali also earned an advanced diploma in humanresource management as well as a diploma in holistic integrated creative arts therapy. As alifelong learner, Ali has found many ways to facilitate communication and healing.Ali worked as a disability case manager for the British Columbia Aboriginal Networkon Disabilities Society where she learned so much from the beautiful culture and traumatichistory of Indigenous people in Canada and around the world.Ali has many years experience as a volunteer for a variety of nonprofit organizationsand is certified in nonviolent crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and as a Lifeline phonecounsellor for crisis intervention.She has sat on the boards for Esquimalt and Aldergrove Military Family ResourceCentres and the National Board for Military Family Resource Support serving as chairperson,secretary, and public relations, and she was a board member for Family Support Institute ofBritish Columbia and the National Board for Visitable Housing.Ali lives a life poured out into building healthy relationships in families, organizations,and the communities she serves in.

Table of Contents

The View from Where I Stand: An Introduction of Sorts ix

PART 1 THE FOUNDATIONS OF TRAUMA 13

1 Beautiful Chaos and Other Great Beginnings 15

2 Surprise! A Teenage Mum 23

3 Cryin' Ryan and Learning to Pray 27

4 The Pain That Changed Me 35

5 Mentors and Other Marvels 45

6 Brain Trauma and Other Things We Don't Plan For 53

PART 2 A PATH TO HEALING 59

7 Trauma's Many Disguises 61

8 Triggers Can Be Sneaky 67

9 Living with Intention 73

10 Guarding My Gates 81

11 You Are What You Think 89

12 For God So Loved the World 95

13 ForgiveMess 103

14 Piece by Shattered Piece 107

PART 3 VISIONS, WHISPERS, AND KNOWINGS 111

15 A Thin Line 113

16 Counselling, Intuition, and Layers of Understanding 117

17 Trusting the Still, Small Voice 123

18 Time Is an Illusion 131

PART 4 BUILDING COMMUNITY 137

19 Liz's Story 139

20 The Frantastic Four 145

21 Frankie's Story 151

22 Ron's Story 155

23 Auntie Arlene's Story 161

24 Memories of Mum 165

25 Dad and I Finding Our Way Back 173

Conclusion 183