Inside the Wendt Center

Inside this issue:

News from the Wendt Center
A unique way we're making an impact
Three exercises to become more present
What I've Learned at the Wendt Center
Do More 24 is 2 days away!

News from the Wendt Center

First-time Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC volunteers attended their on-site training on May 11. We are so grateful for the new energy, skills, and commitment they will bring to this incredible healing camp. It will make our 2019 camp a very special experience for our campers.

May 8, at Federal City Council, Wendt Center Executive Director, Michelle Palmer, served on a panel alongside Children's Law Center and Community of Hope to discuss children's experiences of trauma.

On Sunday, as part of Arena Stage's Voices of Now program, the Wendt Center's teen grief ensemble performed this year's piece, "Missing Link." A panel discussion followed the performance and focused on what resources are available to grieving youths and teens and how we can make those resources more accessible.

Melissa Sellevaag, LICSW, shares the importance of the Wendt Center's Grief Response Work in preparation for Do More 24 on May 22 @ noon to May 23 @ noon .

Thoughts From a Therapist

Find Your Ground: 3 Exercises to Help You Be More Present in Your Life

By Ivonne Miranda, LPC

I am one of several therapists at the Wendt Center trained in body-oriented psychotherapy, and I want to share three simple exercises you can do at home by yourself to tune into your body and hopefully release some negative emotional energy trapped inside of you.

The body plays an essential role in healing from trauma. Often, it is the body, not the mind, that holds traumatic memories. Attending and “listening” to the body is essential for healing. Through the body, you can activate your mind's innate ability to heal. There are many important parts to the process of healing from trauma. One such aspect we call "grounding" or finding ways to be more present in the current moment.

The three exercises below are designed to help you ground yourself more fully in the here and now. This is often a first step in releasing trauma energy and moving toward a place of greater wellbeing.

1. Connect to your cardinal senses.

With gentle gaze, use your eyes to observe your surroundings. What do you see? What stands out to you? Can you name five things that you see?

If you can do so comfortably and with feelings of safety, close your eyes and use your ears to listen. Can you name four things that you hear?

Next, pay attention to your body. What does it feel like to occupy the physical space you are in right now? What does it feel like to occupy your body in this moment? Can you name three sensations you are feeling?

Inhale gently through your nose and focus on your sense of smell. Can you name two things that you smell?

Hone in on your sense of taste. What can you taste? It may be your most recent meal or your toothpaste or maybe even the air around you has a taste to it.

Finally, take a deep breath and honor your body and your ability to perceive your present moment in all these different ways.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

From Our Offices

Four Things I've Learned Since Working at the Wendt Center

By Shelly Hundiwal, Director of Operations

The Wendt Center is a unique and special organization. We are a wonderful mix of cutting-edge expertise in grief and trauma; empathy, gentle care, and kindness; and passion for equity and meeting the needs of the undeserved. I've had the privilege to be our Director of Operations for four years now, working behind the scenes to make sure things continue to run smoothly. In that time, I've seen and learned much. Here are four things I've learned by being a part of the Wendt Center.

I. People Are Resilient

At the Wendt Center, we sit with people and hold their pain following the worst moments of their lives. And we also see people pull themselves back together after they have experienced the unimaginable. Hope survives. People are stronger and more resilient than they know.

II. People Have Different Needs

Grief and trauma affect people differently and your pain is your own. Everyone's needs are different. The Wendt Center strives to provide a continuum and variety of services to help people heal, whatever their life circumstances and background, and wherever they are in their personal healing journey. Healing from grief and trauma is not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing. It is a profoundly personal process with many, often unexpected, twists and turns.

III. People Have the Same Needs

Empathy and compassion are the needs of everyone coping with grief and trauma. Sometimes an attentive ear or a gentle conversation is enough to begin a person's healing. Whether you are one of our trained clinicians, work at our front desk, or are a friend or colleague of someone you know who is in pain--learning how to share a truly empathetic moment with someone, free of judgement, pity, or a desire to "fix it," is a skill anyone can learn that really does make the world a better place.

IV. People Need More of Us

We need to make it easier for people to access strong, affordable mental health services. People shouldn't have to wait for healing services, but there simply aren't enough resources in our city. The Wendt Center does our part by offering low barrier services, such as our school- and home-based program, free in-office counseling to crime victims, a free weekend summer camp for children, and, of course, our Training Institute--designed to equip other service providers with the skills to address grief and trauma effectively. The Wendt Center envisions a world where the devastating impacts of grief, loss, and trauma are recognized and everyone, no matter where they live, or how much money they make, can heal from life's worst moments. We are working hard to make that vision a reality. I'm deeply grateful for your support of this critical work.

Do More 24 is two days away!!

When kindness is on the line, it takes doing what's right when others can't. We at the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing are the grief and trauma experts in the community. That's why we're the ones other nonprofits call in the face of unexpected tragedy. We receive one to two calls for our Grief Response services EVERY WEEK and we go because our community needs us and it's the right thing to do. But we need you to make our Grief Response work sustainable. Please give generously during Do More 24, May 22 @ noon to May 23 @ noon. That's only two days away! Get ready for this special 24 hours of giving and we'd be honored if you'd share the Wendt Center with your friends, family, and colleagues too!

Thank you for reading. Your support makes our work possible. Help us empower people to heal from the worst moments of their lives by donating for Do More 24.