“When we use the creative side of our brain, we access many different skills we use in our lives, including self-reflection, analytical thinking and problem solving. These are all tools that a domestic violence survivor will need to utilize on their journey,” said Lucy Tschachtli, Domestic Violence Counselor at Haven House’s Counseling and Advocacy Program.
On October 1st, Lucy was honored with the 2023 Transforming Trauma Award for her strong involvement with A Window Between Worlds and passion towards helping individuals overcome their struggles through art. A Window Between Worlds is a transformative healing arts program for trauma survivors.
Lucy joined Child and Family Services (C+FS) in 1992 as a Shelter Counselor for Haven House. The following year, Cathy Selser, Founder of A Window Between Worlds, visited Haven House to host several workshops for staff members and clients. She discussed how art can be a powerful tool for a survivor’s healing journey. Cathy began an art empowerment program, which Lucy volunteered to oversee. “The expectations were so low, so I couldn’t fail,” Lucy laughed.
Since starting the program, Haven House has utilized client art in multiple forms. The first community project was presented at the 2008 Shine the Light, the annual C+FS press conference commemorating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It was the first large art piece that was preserved and consisted of a mandola formed from the handprints of survivors of domestic violence, children of survivors and Haven House staff members.
“We may not all be artists, but we are all creative,” explained Lucy. “There are no rules. The clients get to tell people what their artwork means and be able to share their stories in a safe way that means something to them.”
The art is not only used for personal journeys, but also to advocate for critical social issues. The stories reflected in survivors’ art captured the attention and formed connections with government officials. Every piece illustrates why it’s important to put an end to domestic violence.
Recently, survivors worked on a project called “Fly Your Flag.” Each flag conveyed messages about a survivor’s individual journey, what domestic violence means to them along with an inspirational message to share with another survivor.
After seeing the positive impact these flags have made on survivors, Lucy is optimistic the art empowerment program will continue serve as an invaluable resource. “It’s truly amazing to see how people can connect with a survivor’s story through art,” smiled Lucy. “It’s beautiful and the best part is, anybody can do it.”