ALCHEMY FOR THE WOUNDED HEALER:
An integrative guide for transforming trauma
Wounded healers are those who strive to make new meanings of their traumatic experiences as part of their own healing, and in turn, use wisdom gained from their own healing journey to assist others.
Alchemy, by definition, is a transformative process.Whether the hope is to transmute base metals into gold or pursue spiritual enlightenment, the underlying goal is upward transformation. It seems only fitting to use alchemy as a metaphor to describe the courageous journey of wounded healers.
What is Alchemy?
Alchemy is an archaic process and practice dating back to the 5th Century BCE. Early practices of alchemy were used to attempt to transmute base metals, such as lead or copper, into gold. Modern application of alchemy, also called hermetic alchemy, is metaphorically used as a process to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
Who Are Wounded Healers?
Wounded healers are clinicians who tune inward to the source of their pain and use it as a catalyst for healing. The courageous journey of the wounded healer guides healers through a figurative death and rebirth of radical transformation.
What is Alchemy For Wounded Healers?
Alchemy is a process that can be used for healing both the conscious and unconscious mind. The four stages of alchemy, Disillusionment, Confrontation, Integration, and Transformation, can help clinicians create transformative healing by rewriting the narratives of their wounds.
"If we actually let our hearts be touched by the suffering, if we feel an authentic compassion then act from that compassion, that's the kind of alchemy for real transformation in the world."
–Tara Brach
​​Alchemy for the wounded healer is a guide designed to:​​​​
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Normalize the emotional toll that arises for wounded healers in their roles.​
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Provide education on the neurobiology of trauma and how to use alchemy to make meaning of traumatic experiences.
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Encourage self-care, self-reflection, and self-compassion through the process of finding your joy.
Traumatic experiences include but are not limited to:​​
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Physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse
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Neglect
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Experiencing or witnessing violence
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Immigration
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Death of a loved one
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War
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Medical trauma or accident
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Natural disaster
THE FOUR STAGES OF ALCHEMY FOR THE WOUNDED HEALER
The four stages of alchemy for the wounded healer are disillusionment, confrontation, integration, and transformation. These cyclical stages represent the never-ending healing journey, similar to the stages of change model. Each stage provides skills to enhance engagement in the healing journey.​​
The stages are largely inspired by Components for Enhancing Clinicians Experience and Reducing Trauma (CE-CERT), an evidence based model designed to support helping professionals manage traumatic stress. ​
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Below are two downloadable PDF's:
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An overview of the challenges, skills, benefits, and consequences of engaging with or avoiding the skills at each stage. ​​
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A list of do's and dont's for engaging in alchemy for the wounded healer.
An overview of the challenges and skills for each stage.
The Do's and Dont's
for engaging in alchemy for the wounded healer.
