The Hero's Return: Creating a Therapeutic Experience on Mt
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THE HERO’S RETURN CREATING A THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE ON MT SHASTA FOR MILITARY VETERANS MATTHEW BELANGER This mixed media image was created using pencil and ink on sketch, then photoshop rendered with an image taken from the site visit on April 21, 2018. It is the first time you see the volcano once venturing into lower sand flat trail. It is also the one of the most inpiring views and one that continues to orient you on your journey through the woods. i ii ABSTRACT: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder has healing trauma, a design methodology address the emotional weight in the become a major concern for veterans was created to address healing in the presence of nature and other veterans. retuning from overseas. With options in form of pendulation associated with This method uses what is already in- treatment ranging from cognitive ther- somatic experiencing. With a five and spiring about nature, and uses practices apy, body experiencing, and art therapy, half mile reflection path created on the used in therapy to return the veteran to there remains a need to find continued awe-inspiring Mount Shasta, in Califor- wholeness in mind, body, and soul. methods to elicit healing in the suffering nia, there is an opportunity to pull the veteran. Using the learned methods in veteran out of trauma, so that he may FIGURE 1. Veteran in smoke with trauma lurk- iii TABLE OF CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION 7 DESIGN SOLUTION . 28 CONTEXT 31 BACKGROUND 8 JOURNEY BEGINS Traditional Therapy The Ordinary 33 Somatic Experience 9 The Call 33 Psychomotor Therapy 11 The Refusal 33 Alternative Methods in Healing Aid From the Supernatural: Inspiration 35 Nature As Healer 13 Crossing the Threshold: Confindence 37 Art Therapy 15 Road of Trials: Perserverance 40 Interactive Art 17 Road of Trials: Gratitude 42 Prospect Refuge 18 Road of Trials: Courage 43 Meeting with the Goddess, Atonement with the Father: RESEARCH METHODS Forgiveness 45 Pendulation In Somatic Experience 20 Apotheosis: Joy 48 Scope 21 Road of Trials: Vitality 50 Symbolic Death and Rebirth: Serenity 52 SITE ANALYSIS 22 Receiving the Ultimate Boon: Accomplishment 55 Joshua Tree 23 Magical Flight Pursued by the Guardian: Hope 58 Mt Shasta 24 Transformation: Optimism 59 Site Visit 25 Sharing the Elixir of Wisdom: Altruism 61 Inventory 26 Existing Opportunities 27 CONCLUSION 62 WORK CITED 63 iv LIST OF FIGURES All figures are by the author unless otherwise noted FIGURE 1 Veteran and smoke FIGURE 2 Shasta view from the west HikemtShasta.com FIGURE 3 lLight bulbs pendulating Dreamstime.” Dreamstime, www.dreamstime.com/photos-images/light-bulb-pen dulum-idea-concept.html. FIGURE 4 Psycho Therapy static01.nyt.com/images/2014/05/25/magazine/25memory_ss-slide-XZ1K/25mem ory_ss- slide-XZ1K-master1050.jpg. FIGURE 5 Tree with light Caldwelltreecare.com FIGURE 6 Art Therapy Bitchmedia.org FIGURE 7 Interactive CandyChang.com FIGURE 8 Denali AK Britannica.com FIGURE 9 Joshua Tree Cacti Tripsavy.com FIGURE 10 Upper Sand Flat Inventory FIGURE 11. Mt Shasta and Black Butte https://www.outdoorproject.com/blog-news/under-radar-wildflower-spotting FIGURE 12. Hero’s Journey Wheel FIGURE 13 Context. mountains and I-5 FIGURE 14 Context. site and A10 road FIGURE 15 Proposed and existing trail FIGURE 16 The Ordinary v FIGURE 17 The Call FIGURE 18 The Resfusal FIGURE 19 Mixed-media mountain view FIGURE 20 Inpiration FIGURE 21 Confidence FIGURE 22. Perserverance FIGURE 23 Gratitude FIGURE 24 Courage FIGURE 25 Forgiveness FIGURE 26 Joy FIGURE 27 Vitality FIGURE 28 Prospect Persepective FIGURE 29 Prospect Refuge Section FIGURE 30 Prospect Refuge Plan FIGURE 31 Accomplishment FIGURE 32 Euphoria FIGURE 33 Pileated Woodpecker Allaboutbirds.org FIGURE 34 Section Labyrinth FIGURE 35 Plan Labyrinth vi INTRODUCTION: BACKGROUND AND RE- SEARCH PTSD is a brain disorder that occurs afflicted with constant stress, stemming sources, there is a very real need for these when a victim of severe trauma is unable from trauma suffered in past deploy- individuals to find relief in the country to relieve the memory and stress from ments. Having served and deployed to they have given much of themselves to the traumatic event. The trauma becomes overseas locations myself, I have wit- protect. implanted within the everyday experi- nessed some of the awfulness that war in- One such asset that our great ence and is a major hindrance in the per- flicts on our veterans, and hope to inspire country possesses is the natural awe-in- son’s life. PTSD sufferers often attempt healing using the landscape around us. spiring places that reside within it’s to subdue the memories and feelings With PTSD becoming a more borders. With natural sublime landscapes associated with the disorder by attempt- prevalent sickness in the vast population, protected in parks such as Yosemite, Yel- ing suicide, drug and alcohol addictions, and especially our veterans, it is becom- lowstone, Denali, and many more, there and other detrimental actions. ing increasingly clear that we must ad- is opportunity for nature to re-create and With this disease working its way dress the situation in all ways necessary. inspire millions from around the world. through our population at an alarming Those who suffer from PTSD are plagued If veterans are aware of the possibilities rate since the wars in Iraq, we see that with the inability to cope with past that reside close to home, such as Mt there is still much work to be done. In a traumatic experiences. This unfortunate Shasta in Northern California, then they recent occurrence in Yountville, Califor- disorder has affected millions of people too can experience a retreat from the nia, a veteran with PTSD shot 3 women around the world, and many millions of ordinary with relative ease by utilizing therapists and then himself. The victims U.S. Veterans since our independence. that landscape beauty of these awe-in- had been providing his therapy just a PTSD numbers have increased most sig- spiring places. In addition, an awe-in- week before. (nytimes.com) This shows nificantly in our war-time veterans. Since spiring place such as Mt Shasta provides how real and close to home this disease 2002 there have been 118,000 diagnosed the opportunity to design with nature to can strike the ones we love. veterans with the disorder, and there are create a site design to address methods in This disorder has become a bur- believed to be 460,000 undiagnosed vet- healing. Using pendulation therapy and den to my own family, as I have a sister erans. (nerdwallet.com) Whether these the landscape I will design a trail, so that who served in the USAF for 10 years be- veterans are refusing help because of the veterans can hike, reflect, and hopefully fore returning home to find that she was nature of the trauma, or the lack of re- gain perspective. 7 BACKGROUND: FIGURE 2. Shasta view from the west. 8 TRADITIONAL THERAPY SOMATIC EXPERIENCE One of the ways those affected with able to release the trauma through flight standing of how one reacts to painful or PTSD can begin to heal happens through reactions, (running, jumping, panting) pleasant experiences. One such method a technique referred to as somatic expe- or were reduced to shock, where the used to address the body’s sensational rience. This process was created by Peter normal bodily functions no longer per- reactions to trauma is called “Pendula- Levine in the early 70’s and has proven formed properly. This same response is a tion.” This technique takes the patient to to be a beneficial practice. (ptsdunited. reaction that all animals have, including the pain, and then back to their pleasant org) The process takes the patient who humans. However, humans are equipped life experiences places. The aim here is to is affected through the trauma and with many more cognitive connections, reawaken their emotions and cognitions, attempts to enable them to listen to the which can make it harder to handle allowing them to be an active participant body’s reaction when re-immersed into trauma in life. This animalistic process in their feelings. (Neukrug pg.952) At the traumatic experience. The body goes of therapy attempts to return the affected a certain point in therapy, the patient through a fight or flight reaction once in- to their primal self, and allows healing at can return to the trauma in their mind, troduced to something horrifying. Those the root of the problem. To bring one out but now with a more active and defen- suffering from the trauma often remain of an immobile position, tests must be sive posture that allows them to bypass stuck in a psychological place where the performed to see how patients will react the trauma and move forward in their trauma is still present. (Neukrug) Levine to certain situations, whether through healing. did intense work with animals, in which sensations or images. This allows for a studies showed that animals were either resetting of the emotions and under- 9 FIGURE 3. Light bulbs pendulating SUMMARY: PENDULATION Shifting from positive to negative emotions Establishing a safe welcoming environment can be beneficial in establishing a baseline that orients the person to their surround- emotional space where the afflicted can ings is important in establishing a place of maintain strong associations to the feelings. healing. 10 PSYCHOMOTOR THERAPY Treatments vary for those suffering from movement through hiking and evoke pleas- PTSD, and some may look for alterna- ant feelings through plant and setting selec- tive practices. It is these practices such tion, we can make a place that supports this Psychomotor therapy, which attempt to process. relive the trauma by assigning role playing elements to the victim and others sharing the recalled event with him or her.