Revamped healing circle returns to PG

For Imani Miller, traditional counselling can leave a lot to be desired.

“Over the years, I’ve talked to people who have been in counselling for half of their lives, or 15, 20 years. I always wondered why… Why are you still in counselling and not moving forward?

Miller, a trauma counsellor with a special certification in Aboriginal trauma, drew from personal experience when she developed the Warrior program.

“Because I was in a marriage that was very violent, I kind of had to put what I knew into use. So I started working with different groups, and in time I started implementing and developing a different way of healing. It had such a profound effect on people… I thought ‘I’ve got to do something with this.'”

The Warrior program has sessions for men, women, and youth in Prince George, and Miller is working on another on for veterans and first responders.

Miller says the sessions use a combination of modern techniques she learned at UNBC, and some older ideology.

“I looked at the foundations of healing in ancient times, and found they were quite brilliant in what they knew and how they treated people. The foundation of Women Warriors comes from the medicine wheel, using four directions and how to heal with them. It’s taking ownership for what has happened to you in your life and learning how to get past being a victim.”

After running several sessions in the Prince George area, Miller spent two years in Melbourne, Australia, where she continued work on the Warrior Program.

The return to Prince George gave Miller the opportunity to revamp and try some new things, always with the end goal of people moving forward.

“I’ve just written a training manual to show facilitators how to run this program, and they’re meant to be self-sustaining, so eventually everyone in the circle could run their own circle.”

The group is always free, and will meet next on Thursday, July 23rd, from 6:30 to 9:30 at the back entrance of Studio 2880, 2880 15th ave.

“Because of what I’ve been through with a severely violent marriage, I’m very happy to be alive,” explains Miller, “I took those experiences and I’ve built everything because of it…So, no regrets!”