Any service member, veteran, first responder or retired first responder who is interested in the workshop may find out more information or register free for the workshop by contacting Mike Wold, US Navy Veteran and workshop coordinator, at 651-687-9767.

Announcing an in-person Healing of Memories Workshop for Veterans and First Responders. It will be held at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, AZ on November 12-14, 2021. The workshop will provide the participants with a safe experiential and interactive way to address anger, loss, grief and guilt. The workshop has been conducted for over 300 Arizona veterans during the last eight years and is now being made available to both veterans and first responders (police, sheriff, fire and EMS personnel) who, like veterans, often suffer from the memories of their experiences on the front lines.

The workshop is offered free to service members, veteran, first responders and retired first responders. It begins with dinner at 6pm on Friday, November 12, 2021 and ends at 1pm on Sunday, November 14. Those who have attended this workshop say that it was a major step in their healing from their psychological and spiritual wounds. Transportation will be provided to those who need it.

In order to ensure the safety of the participants and facilitators at this workshop, we will be following the CDC Coronavirus Guidelines. In an abundance of caution to protect the participants, some of whom may have underlying health issues, this workshop is only open to those who are fully vaccinated. This restriction will be re-evaluated for the future workshops. All participants will be provided their own private rooms.

The Healing of Memories Workshop was created by Father Michael Lapsley, an Anglican missionary priest, who in 1990 suffered the loss of his hands and the sight in one eye from a letter bomb that was sent to him in Zimbabwe by a supporter of the pro-apartheid government in South Africa. After a long recovery from the bombing, Father Lapsley decided to dedicate his life to helping victims of emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds inflicted by war, human rights abuses and other traumatic circumstances.