ABOUT US

We are an online support service for anyone afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We provide information, definitions, forums for learning and exchanging information, a place to post your “Art Work”, and a place to receive feedback from others with PTSD and also professional therapists.

This web site was developed in conjunction with a PBS documentary (produced by the Battle Creek, Michigan VA Hospital’s Multi Media Center), “The Art of Healing”. In this documentary Dr. Karen Gandy-Biferno discusses PTSD and the lives of three Vietnam Veterans, R. Allen Gandy, William (Bill) H. McDonald, Jr., and Roger Osborn, who use Art, in very different forms, as a way of healing

Dr. Karen Gandy-Biferno, is a PhD. Psychologist who has been in private practice for 25 years. During this time she gained extensive experience in working with people who have suffered from PTSD from a variety of causes including the effects war, physical and sexual abuse as a child or adult, domestic violence, on-the-job accidents, and victims or witnesses of violent crime, to name a few. Dr. Gandy-Biferno is also on staff with this website.

R. Allen Gandy, discovered that the Visual Arts were both interesting and healing at the same time. Allen uses computer graphics to create pictures that express his responses to life-situations. Over time his Vietnam pictures accumulated and began to tell a story - a story about the effects of PTSD and the long difficult recovery process. That story ultimately became the PBS Special, “The Art of Healing.”

William (Bill) H. McDonald, Jr. uses Literary Art – poetry writing beginning from his tour of duty in Vietnam, and continuing through to today – as a form of healing. Bill and Allen collaborated on a book of poems, written by Bill with the book cover done by Allen. The cover for that book, “Sacred Eye: Poetry In Search Of The Divine” won a Gold Book Award from the American Association Of Authors in 2003.

Roger Osborn uses Music and Performing Arts – he has his own band and credits his “fiddle playing” with saving his life. He plays concerts in and around the Great Lakes States, and does many benefit activities for Veterans in the VA Medical Center.

Participating in the program, “The Art Of Healing” has furthered the healing process for each one of these veterans. Reaching out to others is healing in and of itself. This web site offers those same healing processes of art and reaching out to any one who suffers from PTSD.

Any trauma can create PTSD (e.g. natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornados, forest fires; domestic and family violence such as child or spousal abuse; gang or terrorist violence, life threatening accidents like air plane, car, or train crashes, war, etc.). Any form of Art or creative expression can help heal the effects of PTSD. This web site is about healing, for any and all who suffer with PTSD. To contact people from the program, a licensed therapist, or to post your artwork on our site, click on the CONTACT US button on the home page.