Stanwood's Soldiers Project Northwest adds to ranks of therapists
Everett, Wash.
Published: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Stanwood's Soldiers Project Northwest adds to ranks of therapists
Based in Stanwood, the project also offers training to volunteer therapists and seeks to educate communities on the psychological effects of war.
Psychiatric nurse Trisha Pearce of Stanwood is the founder and volunteer director of the Soldiers Project Northwest.
Pearce, on behalf of her organization, recently received a $17,000 grant from the Johnson Haefling Foundation of Seattle. Most of the money will be used to put on a day-long Soldiers Project Northwest conference April 23 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.
The conference focuses on the mental health needs of those deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. The conference includes a production of the play “Into the Fire,” which uses humor, music and the true stories of veterans of the current wars.
On Friday, Pearce also accepted an award for Soldiers Project Northwest from the Washington Marriage and Family Therapy association.
“I am always thrilled when the project gets acknowledged in that way,” Pearce said. “But secretly I was ecstatic as I got to speak for five minutes in front of 90 therapists and implore them to sign up to volunteer for the project.”
Pearce said she continues to be humbled by the requests for help that she gets from active-duty military personnel and war veterans and their families.
“As a nation, our responsibility — whether we agree with the war or not — is to help our veterans and their loved ones.” Pearce said. “These people put their lives on the line in the name of this country, and everyone who returns is changed.”
Learn more
For more information about Soldiers Project Northwest and its April conference, call 206-290-1035 or go to www.thesoldiersproject.org.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
© 2010The Daily Herald Co., Everett, WA
