Manya Chylinski and Elena Breese were both in the finish line grandstands for the 2013 Boston Marathon. Both of these women were dramatically impacted when two bombs exploded, one at the finish line and another 210 yards away. Not all injuries are physical and the struggle with PTSD can have a devastating impact on a survivor. These two brave women are committed to spreading the message that not all injuries are physical but with work you can heal.

Manya’s life was violently altered, along with the lives of hundreds of others, while a spectator at the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Without physical injuries, she returned to her daily life where she began to struggle with fear and anxiety. It took recognizing that she was not merely a witness but also a victim for her to get real help. Although invisible in the media, witnesses of violence commonly suffer mental health injuries, particularly when they are unprepared for the violence and powerless to prevent it.
How do you help the invisible victims of mass violence like the Boston Marathon bombing? As a speaker and a writer, Manya’s mission is to spread the word about how some survivors of mass violence appear unharmed but actually experience very real mental health injuries.
website: manyachyli nski.com Twitter: @ManyaChylinski

Elena is a Boston Marathon bombing survivor and lives with post-traumatic stress disorder. Through her website, Still Blooming Me, Elena shares how she learned to embrace her trauma and mental challenges, advocate for herself, and grow from her experience. She is passionate about bringing awareness about PTSD and sharing resources that have helped her heal. Elena has contributed to various blogs, podcasts, and speaks publicly.
Elena is a dedicated wife and mother. Her family lives in Phoenix, Arizona.
Website: www.stillbloomingme.com
Instagram: @stillbloomingme

In this episode Rachel bravely talks about the emotional process of exploring the meaning of forgiveness. Forgiveness is a complicated emotional experience with deep personal meaning. Listen and appreciate the thought provoking reality of surviving a school shooting and confronting the topic of forgiveness.

Rachel Maurice is a survivor of the 2001 Santana High School shooting, she was 16 year old junior and witnessed a 15-year-old classmate kill her friend, Randy Gordon, 17, Bryan Zuckor, 14 and wound thirteen other members of the school community. As a result, she decided to devote her career to the criminal justice field and has a passion helping other survivors of gun violence. She is a member of The Rebels Project and the Everytown Survivor Network both are peer support groups for survivors of violence. Rachel serves as a survivor mentor to the Students Demand Action group of High School aged students in her area. And volunteers her time working with youth by teaching Sunday School. In 2012 she earned her MBA from the University of Redlands & in 2009 her B.A. from California Baptist University. She is married with two daughters and their beloved dog Charlie.

In this episode Rachel shares about her experience surviving the Santana High School Shooting in March 2001. The impact is long lasting. Rachel shares the wisdom she has gained over the years and her inspiring journey to heal from this tragic event.

Rachel Maurice is a survivor of the 2001 Santana High School shooting, she was 16 year old junior and witnessed a 15-year-old classmate kill her friend, Randy Gordon, 17, Bryan Zuckor, 14 and wound thirteen other members of the school community. As a result, she decided to devote her career to the criminal justice field and has a passion helping other survivors of gun violence. She is a member of The Rebels Project and the Everytown Survivor Network both are peer support groups for survivors of violence. Rachel serves as a survivor mentor to the Students Demand Action group of High School aged students in her area. And volunteers her time working with youth by teaching Sunday School. In 2012 she earned her MBA from the University of Redlands & in 2009 her B.A. from California Baptist University. She is married with two daughters and their beloved dog Charlie.

Amy O’Neill is a Survivor of the Boston Marathon Bombing. Amy is a Stakeholder for the National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center, a Licensed Professional Counselor and is newly in the OVC TTAC Consultant Network. Ms. O’Neill possess a unique combination of personal and professional experience with trauma recovery process when a victim of Mass Violence or Terrorism. As a Trauma-Informed, 25+ year mental health professional, survivor of the Boston Marathon attack and endurance athlete (3x Ironman Triathlon Finisher and 5x Boston Marathon finisher) Amy has an intimate understanding of adversity, resilience and how to work through challenges including the complicated trauma/survivor experience. Amy O’Neill maintains a private counseling practice and is an Adjunct Professor for the graduate Counseling Psychology Program at Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, PA and the host of The Trauma Impact Podcast.

Dr. Alyssa Rheingold shares insights on traumatic grief as a result of mass violence. The path to healing is not a straight line but it certainly helps to understand that it is a journey. The loss becomes a “part of your h” says Dr. Rheingold and healing is “learning to carry it lightly.”

Dr. Rheingold is a licensed clinical psychologist and Professor at the National Crime Victim’s Research and Treatment Center (NCVC) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is the Associate Director of Administration and Director of Clinical Operations at the NCVC. In addition, Dr. Rheingold is the Director of the Preparedness, Response & Recovery Division of the National Mass Violence Resource Center. Her expertise includes evidence-based treatment of trauma related mental health issues, grief and loss, and traumatic loss by homicide. Dr. Rheingold is the PI of several federally funded service grants to improve resources for survivors of homicide, domestic violence victims, and underserved victims of crime She was the Co-PI on an OVC AEAP grant to provide ongoing resiliency and recovery services for those impacted by the Charleston Emanuel AME Church shooting and is the PI on an OVC funded grant to develop community response to intra-familial homicide. Dr. Rheingold has published over 60 peer reviewed articles and book chapters in the area of trauma, bereavement, and victimization. She has provided a number of trainings including Mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Loss by Homicide, GRIEF Approach, Traumatic Grief, Impact of Witnessing Domestic Violence, Stress Management, and Prolonged Exposure for PTSD.

Heather Dearman’ is a surviving family member from the Aurora Movie Theater Shooting which occurred on July, 20th 2012. In this conversation Heather talks about the impact on her extended family, she shares what it was like to live in a traumatized close knit community and how she worked towards healing. Heather also shares the heartbreaking story of how her cousin Ashley was impacted and what continues to endure since the shooting. Heather is a true inspiration on how to find love in the darkness.

Heather Dearman is a wife and mother of 5 children. She is the current chair of the 7/20 memorial foundation. Heather’s cousin Ashley was paralyzed in the July 20, 2012 Aurora Theater Shooting. Ashley’s unborn child and 6 year old daughter Veronica were also killed. Heather was inspired to join the foundation in 2015 after experiencing the love and compassion the community displayed at her youngest daughter’s lemonade stand fundraiser for the theater shooting memorial. For the following 3 years, she helped lead fundraising efforts for the permanent memorial, and in July of 2018, the permanent memorial “Ascentiate” was installed. Heather and her board are now focused on advocating for survivors of mass tragedy and their perpetual needs for resources that will support long-term resiliency. Heather also works closely with Aurora’s police officers and firefighters in her role with the city of Aurora’s civil service commission. Her connections with first responders, victims, survivors, and communities who have experienced tragedy propel her passion for proving that there is more love in the world than hate.

In this episode Tricia Brouk discusses what it was like to witness the worst terror attack in US history and the impact it had on her. On Sept. 12th the producer called and said “the show is on.” In this vulnerable conversation we discuss the impact of trauma and life pre and post 9/11. Tricia shares her thoughts on how art can heal after tragedy. THe ripple effect of traumatic events is undeniable.
Tricia Brouk is an international award winning director. She is works in theater, film and television.
In addition to her work in the entertainment industry, she applies her expertise to the art of public speaking. She’s the executive producer of Speakers Who dare, a TEDx producer. She choreographed Black Box on ABC, The Affair on Showtime, Rescue Me on Fox, and John Turturro’s Romance and Cigarettes, where she was awarded a Golden Thumb Award from Roger Ebert. The series Sublets, won Best Comedy at the Vancouver Web-Festival. She curates and hosts the Speaker Salon in NYC, The Big Talk an award winning podcast on iTunes and directs and produces The Big Talk Over Dinner a new tv series. She was recently awarded Top Director of 2019 by the International Association of Top Professionals and her documentary Right Livelihood A Journey to Here about the Buddhist Chaplain at Riker’s Island won Best Documentary Short at The Olympus Film Festival and You’re Gorgeous, I Love Your Shirt, An Inside Look at Bullying and Mental Health have both been submitted for an Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.

Travis shares his compelling story of surviving the Westminster Bridge Terror attack in 2017. Unfortunately the next part of his journey is not uncommon for survivors, how to access services and support and navigate the mental health care system. Travis shares his incredible insights into the need for recognition, validation and how commemoration services help survivors heal.

Travis D. Frain is a Masters Student at Lancaster University in the UK. He was seriously injured in the Westminster Bridge terror attack in March 2017, and has since spent the past two years campaigning for improved support for British victims of terrorism affected at home and abroad