Racialized Trauma & the Pathway to Restoration in the US

Facilitators: Susan Belchamber, Shayla Wright, Karen Gold Sherman, Rita Maria Brown; trainees: Anna Molitor, Dori Koll, Katherine Poco-Enders, Robert Buxbaum
Language: English

This Lab will focus on growing awareness and discernment around the personal, intergenerational, and collective trauma currently found in the United States surrounding our history of slavery and racism. Our goal is to form a “we-space” and resonance body created and supported by interactive dialogue, mindful listening, and transparent communication to help us acknowledge and deepen our understanding of entrenched racial and socio-economic inequality in the U.S. We hope that through our exploration, we can become trauma-informed participants who are more able to support the potential for on-going reckoning, reconciliation, and healing in the U.S.

We will be exploring

• What constitutes the historical background to the current experience of racism in the United States?
• How does personal, intergenerational and collective trauma impact this history and experience?
• How has the less-than-fully acknowledged role of slavery left a lasting imprint on U.S. culture?
• What impact does participation in witnessing “Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality” have on a group of people exploring the topic of racism?
• How has this history led to the unrest and polarization currently on display in the U.S?
• How do we, as a largely White-bodied group, process the grief and tension that comes with navigating the historical and current level of racism and inequality found in the U.S.?
• How can we, as trauma-informed participants in the current U.S. landscape, create a space of exploration, acknowledgement, and witnessing to help integrate our history of trauma-induced fragmentation and support the potential for collective reconciliation?

Participants are asked to commit to

• Be present for the duration of the cycle of the Lab (please see the dates below)
• Be present for introductory calls to basic competencies (or to watch the recordings), especially should you be new to this field of work
• Show up with mindfulness and authenticity and explore questions like:
  • How do I participate in the integration of this trauma and how do I perpetuate it?
  • How do I participate in othering?
• Take part in a triad discussion in between our Lab meetings in order to deepen the experience and learning around this work.
• Ensure to be free from the influence of drugs.
• Assume confidentiality – all personal sharing within this Lab will be kept confidential and names of other participants will not be shared, nor will they be described.
• Assume self-responsibility for your health – this Lab does not provide therapy or treatment.

Max. group size: 50

Time: Wednesdays at 8 – 9:30 pm ET (Please check here to find the time in your location)

Dates: Nov 18, Dec 16 2020, Jan 6, Jan 27, Feb 17, Mar 3, Mar 24, Apr 21, May 19, June 9

Lab Team

Susan Belchamber
has woven a unique blend of work in international trade and economics with social psychology and consulting throughout her diverse career. Holding graduate degrees in International Relations/Economics and Psychotherapy, Susan has had an extensive career in government (USTR and GAO), as an international trade consultant in the UK, as well as in private practice based in neurotherapy, coaching and group facilitation. Susan’s current work focuses on facilitating personal integration of collective and intergenerational trauma, with specific focus on healing trauma around money, envisioning new economic possibilities, and supporting post-traumatic growth. A community-builder at heart, Susan is deeply involved in issues related to social justice and exploring ways to build a more equitable and sustainable world by refocusing on what we truly value.

Shayla Wright
Shayla Wright has been a student of Thomas Huebl for the past eight years. She has worked internationally for the last thirty-five years as a somatic coach, soul mentor and group facilitator. Her interest in relational healing and cultural transformation drew her to travel extensively, and to study and train in indigenous and shamanic practices, including different kinds of ritual, grief work, and lineage healing work. In her work with individuals and groups she has facilitated the practices of emergent dialogue, collective inquiry and embodied intimacy. She has also worked for many years in the field of death, dying, and hospice work. Her current approach is informed by her work with Thomas Huebl, Aftab Omer, Daniel Foor, and Internal Family Systems. She is deeply committed to staying present with what is here, to discovering how we can include and integrate the energies of violence, separation, and isolation.

Karen Gold Sherman
has been a student of Thomas Hübl for the past 7 years. She was an Assistant in his first US Timeless Wisdom Training in the US and the Celebrate Life Festival at Omega. She has a background as a Somatic Experiencing Therapist and is a Senior Assistant and Consultant for this work. She has trained in Early Somatic Attachment work with Diane Poole Heller where she also served as an Assistant and Coordinator. She also trained in Biodynamic Cranial work with Franklyn Sills. She is a Brennan Healing Science practitioner and was on Faculty at the school for 10 years, teaching, mentoring teachers and supervising students. She is certified in Core Energetics. Her background also includes working as an Occupational Therapist with parents and children for 30 years. As a lifelong learner, she is grateful to be studying with Thomas Hübl, receiving his teachings and to be part of the Sangha.

Rita Maria Brown
was born within the vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture. She has lived throughout the US, in Amsterdam, and currently lives in Hawai’i. Rita is a course instructor and intercultural coach for the University of California at Berkeley. She has a master’s degree in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations and is currently a master’s degree student in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is certified as an Integral Master Coach and consults to support social and climate justice leaders globally. Rita has studied with Thomas Hübl since 2014 and is a student of Dr. Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing. Rita is deeply committed to supporting the healing of individual and collective trauma.

Apply for this lab now!

Applications for this lab are now closed due to high interest.