“A community event, Growing beyond trauma,” at the Chestnut Hill Library

Originally published in the Chestnut hill Local Thursday, September 1, 2022

by Stacia Friedman

Lately, the news cycle can seem like a constant drum beat of physical and emotional trauma: COVID, Monkeypox, gun violence, sexual assault, war, racism, political polarization and inflation.

How can we, as individuals and as a community, learn to cope and heal?

That was the question addressed by Mt. Airy social worker Aviva Perlo at a community event August 24 at the Chestnut Hill Library. Perlo’s therapy practice, Creative Coping, hosted the event along with community support from Weavers Way, Kilian’s Hardware and Philadelphia Community Acupuncture.

As twenty attendees filed into the room and took their seats in a circle, award-winning percussionist Karen Smith played soft, soothing music. Following an introduction by Perlo, three community members shared experiences of trauma and healing. A female pastor described how she became alienated from the church after being sexually assaulted by clergy.

“To me, the church is not a safe place. That is a problem for many victims of clergy sexual abuse,” she said. “I found healing through writing, mental health services, volunteerism and community service.”