Sacred Trees

 NZBN9429050006922 - 1 Broad St Southbridge - 0224580339 - [email protected]

"We believe in the power of human connection and the innate strength within each individual. Our mission is to teach emotional regulation and stress management because we love people and deeply believe in their capacity to be both strong and vulnerable at the same time. 

 Therefore, we empower people to take ownership of their own mental wellbeing and use the internal and external resources available to them to manage their psychological distress. This enables them to draw from and contribute to the good things in their community 

The word suicide is now common and often used to indicate distress. This results in many referrals for assessment and clinical intervention. However, there is no assessment tool that can accurately assess suicide risk in individuals, and due to high thresholds for mental health admissions, many are returned to the community to find their own supports. Often communities do not feel capable of helping and the fear of doing the wrong thing makes people reluctant to provide support and this leaves the person outside of the community when they need it the most.  

We approach this in a two-part short workshop. 
 
 Part one The Aroha Approach.

 
We offer a mnemonic (A.R.O.H.A) to guide individuals in supporting someone in distress.
A = Ask, R = Risk manage, O = Offer hope, H = Help, A = Awhai or wrap them in support
 
In part two we introduce the Sacred Tree resources. 
Because R = Risk management can be quite complex we have developed and written support resources that are based on best practice and our experience in this field.
 
The resource begins with keeping the person safe while referring but it does not stop there. 
 
The Sacred Trees process aims to help those in services, and those who do not enter services, to activate their personal strengths and to draw on the connections between themselves and their community. It blends ancient wisdom with modern science in a way that’s both engaging and practical. By identifying and connecting with “sacred trees” in the form of people, places, and things, individuals can find their own sources of wisdom and support within their community. This approach not only helps in managing stress and difficult emotions but also fosters a sense of personal empowerment, connections and resilience, and builds skills for life. The information is presented in a fun and accessible way making it even more effective, as it can reach a wider audience and encourage active participation. The resources consist of an activity the supporter and supported complete together with the aid of a worksheet and workbook. Once complete a summary is entered into an app so the supported person can keep them near.

Our method is steeped in positive psychology and empowerment. We do not use the words suicide, risk, crisis or safety. Therefore these resources can be used as a simple conversation between parents and youth, as the basis of a lesson plan at a youth group or even in a sport psychology talk at a sport club.

The Sacred Trees resources support the messages we give during the Aroha Approach workshops. The workshops themselves are self funded either as a sponsored 2hr event ( $250 plus GST ), or as a community event for koha. The workshops are cheap, accessible, and  self funding. The donations made here do not fund workshops.

The Sacred Trees resources are the charitable portion of our work and are provided at the workshop free of any additional charge. This is because we don't want to add additional costs. We want people to have access to as many of the resources as they need, not as many as they can afford.

We are using this Open Collective platform so you can make donations and claim them on your taxes. We love the transparency they offer - you will be able to see how much we have raised and how the money has been used. As a supporter you will be kept informed on our activities and the feedback we receive. You will be able to share your own ideas and comments on our work by direct contact with Sacred Trees through this site.

We love in person conversations so give us a call on 022 458 0339. Help us by becoming a supporter and making a financial contribution below. Any amount will make a difference and be deeply appreciated.

Click here or call me 022 458 0339 to make an Aroha Approach booking at a pre-set community event. Available dates are February 14 and 28 2025 and March 14 and 28 2025. If you would like to discuss a workshop in your community, workplace or social group call 022 458 0339 to discuss.