Community Trauma Healing

by Dirk Eitzen and Carolyn Yoder

Community trauma healing is a holistic approach to trauma healing that integrates mental health care with community development, economic self-help, conflict transformation, spiritual affirmation and other kinds of emotional and social support. The goal is not just the healing of individuals, but the building and strengthening of healing communities. This in turn strengthens individuals and helps inoculate communities against further trauma.

Eitzen, a professor of Film & Media Studies at Franklin & Marshall College and an independent documentary producer, wrote and directed the documentary "The Tsunami's Wake: Healing from Trauma." Yoder is a former director of the Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience program at Eastern Mennonite University and author of "The Little Book of Trauma Healing." She is now an international consultant in community trauma healing.