Aboriginal Healing,
Sharing Culture |
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David Clark is an Emeritus Professor of Psychology who has spent the past twenty years developing initiatives that empower people to improve their social and emotional wellbeing. His work is based on the core values of acceptance, authenticity, connection, courage, creativity, empathy, empowerment and trust.
David has an extensive knowledge of psychological, sociological, cultural and biological aspects of addiction and mental health recovery, and healing from trauma. He has been a writer, educator, researcher, community developer and recovery advocate. He moved to Perth from South Wales in late-2008.. David was a neuroscientist for 25 years, having trained with Nobel Laureate Professor Arvid Carlsson and then directing his highly successful neuroscience laboratory. He won a number of awards for his research. In 2000, he decided that focusing on brain chemistry and using drug treatment was NOT the answer to helping people overcome addiction and mental health problems. It is NOT what is wrong with a person, but what is happening or has happened to that person that influences their wellbeing. David received widespread recognition for his grassroots initiative Wired In, which empowered people to recover from substance use problems, as well as for developing the online community Wired In To Recovery (which had 4,000 members and 7,500 blogs) and Recovery Stories website. In 2013, David developed Sharing Culture, an educational initiative to help Indigenous peoples heal from historical trauma and its consequences. He believes strongly that society can do much better in helping Indigenous peoples. Moreover, there is much that society can learn from Indigenous peoples. Their holistic view of wellbeing is superior to the western view of mental health, and their spiritual connection to land means they are more protective of the environment. David has always believed that positive Stories can have a healing impact. He is currently developing a new project, with anthropologist John Stanton, entitled 'The Aboriginal Child Artists of Carrolup: A Unique Storytelling, Education and Filmmaking Initiative'. The project focuses on the Story of a white schoolteacher who inspires traumatised Aboriginal children to create beautiful art that gains international acclaim and challenges a government’s racist policies. David is also writing a book about the Carrolup Story. > David's Journey, Part 1 > David's Journey, Part 2 > David's Journey, Part 3 |
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