Viking Therapy?

As the family unit in Western society is increasingly fractured, many suffering from stress, anger, and trauma often must find to alternative ways to build community and find belonging. One unique example is the Viking Festival in Wolin, Poland. More than just an event, the coordinated battles and revival of craftsmanship have allowed many to channel aggression and frustration in a constructive manner, and even helped some to rebuild their lives.

To help veterans struggling to overcome post-traumatic stress disorder, the Phoenix VA Health Care System has started using sports and outdoor recreation as a means of therapy. Although it does not replace medications or act as a cure-all, this practice has been shown to reduce symptoms and can lead to a reduction in medications.

Building connections and learning to cope can help to break the inter-generational cycle of addiction. The nonprofit Eluna operates a camp in Dayton, Ohio, for children whose families have been ravaged by addiction. In addition to receiving the support of adult mentors, the children also engage in activities designed to teach them skills to manage their emotions. With funding from government subventions and private donations, Eluna plans to open several more camps nationwide.

Bringing people of different ethnic backgrounds together to create art and express themselves helps war-torn societies cope and grow. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Most Mira program helps people touched by the horrors of the Bosnian war grapple with issues of memory and identity by engaging in theater. The theater troupe consists of Bosnian and Serbian high school students who participate in a multi-year program.

By taking up boxing, Michigan’s youth learn to diffuse violence and cope with their stressors. Kalamazoo Eastside Boxing provides structure, mentorship, and a social outlet for disadvantaged and troubled youth across Michigan. In addition to keeping young people off of the streets, being a part of the boxing club helps to improve their sense of self-worth.

Camp Shine, is helping student survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, heal. Through art, dance, and music, they are processing their trauma. The camp, was founded by two upperclassmen from MSDHS who believe in the idea of healing through art. Data shows it’s working. Researchers from the University of Miami who surveyed the students before and after the camp saw a reduction in PTSD symptoms. "They're here to have fun, but they're also here to heal.”

Yup’ik community members in Hooper Bay, Alaska founded a dance group for teens. In the six years since it started, the group has provided activity, responsibility, stress relief, and a connection to tradition for its young participants.

Fiddler Dennis Stroughmatt plays French Creole music, sings, and speaks in Missouri French to raise awareness about the language and culture no longer widely practiced in the region.

Art encourages resilience by helping kids in difficult neighborhoods cope with trauma. In the neighborhood of Fairhill, in Philadelphia, Taller Tuertorriqueño, a community arts center, offers art workshops and programs that emphasize the community’s connection to Puerto Rican culture. By supporting and bringing resources to the community, Taller Tuertorriqueño helps youth express themselves and manage the stress of their environment.

The Heartland Earthworks Conservancy finds and works to preserve ancient, Indigenous earthworks in Ohio. They use a device called a magnetometer to find electromagnetic remnants in the soil that reveal buried and disassembled structures like walls, ditches, and mounds.