The Healing Houses located in the Philippines

Dear Supporter,
Thank you so much for your support and belief in the International Healing House, Inc., a Non-Profit Corporation (#260613027) in the United States.

The Healing House Philippines, Inc., is a NGO offering psychoanalytic psychotherapy for trauma victims. The first Healing House in Gingoog, Northern Mindanao Island, is a lovely home that offers an outpatient Autism Clinic for Children, as well as treatment for battered woman and abused victims.

Our second program is the Basilan Healing House which is operational in a War Zone. Philippine Troops are fighting the Muslim Terrorists, the Abu Sayyaf (ASG), MILF and JI, nearby. Basilan is part of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The Basilan Healing House Outpatient Trauma Clinic is located in the St. Michael's Hospital, the site of Lamitan Seige. I am, reportedly, the first American civilian to return to this island since the American Missionaries were kidnapped min 2001. The Americans, the Burnhams, were held in a bus outside the hospital as the Abu Sayyaf attempted to kidnap the Philippine MD and Nursing Staff; the purpose was to care for the American (he was later killed) who had hurt his foot marching through the jungle with the terrorists. My hospital office looks out on a sign noting the escape route of these Abu Sayyaf after the Lamitan Seige. We have RN and Social Work volunteers to help the Healing House Clinic on Basilan. Many patients have come for treatment due to PTSD.

The Philippine Government has on-going Peace Talks with the MILF, but the Talks recently broke down. There was a bombing in Zamboanga yesterday by an Islamic Group. The bomb exploded at the Air Force Base; it killed three civilians and wounded seventeen. There was also a kidnapping here a few days ago. This week I am in Zamboanga. Usually I am on Basilan Island.

Obviously, there are Muslim and Christian children as well as young and old victims who are traumatized, displaced and need of help. There is War against Terror here but the American Military are invited guests in the Philippines. Therefore, U.S. Forces are advisors only and also offer humanitarian aid. No Americans are fighting.

The third Healing House is in the Philippine Military Hospital in Camp Navarro, West Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) in Zamboanga City. This is a Trauma Clinic inside the Military Hospital for the wounded soldiers. I am Co-Directing it with Colonel "Joy" P. Turla. She is an MD and Commanding Officer, the AFP General Hospital, Western Mindanao Command. We are setting up a group therapy and clinical office in the hospital. I will furnish it and make it very comfortable. (in case you are wondering... all is with U.S. recognition). We have local MA Psychologists who are helping as well as marvelous Nursing Staff.

Our fourth Healing House Program maybe located in Jolo, on the Island of Sulu, an ARMM area. I have visited General Sabban and hope to shortly return to stay on the Philippine Marine Base in Jolo. Perhaps we will set up a Healing House Trauma Center in a Jolo Muslim Hospital. This is only a possibility but treatment for PTSD should be provided inside the Base for Marines and civilians. The fighting in Jolo has been intense.

So, we currently have three Healing House Clinics/Programs in Mindanao. They are in Gingoog, Basilan and Zamboanga. Pretty good for a tiny, barely funded U.S. Non-Profit Corporation that became a NGO in the Philippines! Thank you so much for your loving support. And all future help would be so appreciated. Psychoanalytic thinking about terrorism/war and trauma can make a difference in Third World Countries being terrorized by Islamic Extremists who are killing civilians, the innocent victims of the psychological warfare. And, this is a Psychological War with very few physical victims but massive numbers of psychologically traumatized and intimidated men, women and children. ( I have many stories!)

The Healing House Psychoanalytic Program is a frontier in Third World Countries which lack a sophisticated way to reflect on Terror or treat PTSD. There is an absence of psychological thinking resulting in an opportunity for psychoanalytic help to both individuals and the leadership in Third World Countries. There are many Third World Countries with victims needing assistance! God Bless You for helping! God Bless the Philippines and God Bless America!

Dr. Eleanor Lisa Beyea Pomeroy, PHD, MPH, CHS

Psychoanalyst
Member, International Psychoanalytical Association
President and CEO, the International Healing House, Inc.
An International Psychoanalytic Treatment Program for Trauma Victims