BOOK: Sifting Through the Ashes: Finding Beauty, Peace, Love, and Strength Through Trauma, by Darla Gale & Alice Rodriguez
Stories of Tragedy Turned to Triumph and Making Meaning from Trauma
On November 8, 2018, California experienced its deadliest fire in the history of the state. More than one hundred fifty-three thousand acres of land, farms, and towns were decimated, close to one hundred people lost their lives, and tens of thousands of people fled from their homes never to return. Life as they knew it was changed forever. In a few short hours, plans, visions and dreams were erased.
Sifting Through the Ashes contains true stories of trauma, tragedy, and resilience told by those affected by the 2018 Camp Fire in Northern California. Each story in this memoir recounts the lived experiences, thoughts, feelings, and implications from the survivors themselves.
This book is designed to help anyone who has undergone trauma of any kind, devastation, and hopelessness to learn to cope with disaster or grief, written from the perspective of survivors, first responders, and therapists. Though towns are being rebuilt, the trauma of the 2018 Camp Fire echoes in the hearts and minds of those who lived it.
Sifting through the Ashes Provides Guidance for Healing, Resilience, and Growth
Sifting Through the Ashes specifically addresses the stigma around counseling and what happens when people are not getting the help they need. Symptoms may include the following:
Being stuck in the trauma / Remaining a victim / Being triggered and re-triggered / Isolation / Loneliness / Distress / Depressions / Anxiety / Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder / Irritability / Physical pains / Substance abuse / Trouble concentrating / Insomnia / Social isolation / Lack of energy / Exhaustion / Feeling numb or having no feelings / Suicidal thoughts
This book guides readers through the emotional process toward healing and peace, fostering and promoting resilience and growth. It also includes a self-help section of practical mental health exercises to help trauma survivors start their healing journey and cope with their own emotional process.
Sifting Through the Ashes was compiled and written by Darla Gale, LMFT, and Alice Rodriguez, LPCC. Together they’ve heard countless stories from survivors and have moved them from victim to survivor to thriver. Gale works for Heartstrings Counseling, where they offer low-cost or complimentary counseling sessions in California. www.HeartstringsCounseling.org
All the profits from the sales of Sifting Through the Ashes are being put into the Heartstrings Crisis and Disaster Counseling Program to provide free counseling sessions (California residents only) to trauma survivors,
About the Author
Darla Gale is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the CEO/Founder of Heartstrings Counseling, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency, and Darla Gale Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapist, Inc. Darla graduated from Brandman University and has a master’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in marriage and family therapy. Using her expertise and guidance, she supervises 18 Marriage and Family Therapist Trainees and Associates, providing each with the support they need to meet their individual goals and objectives and helping them in their journey towards becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California.Darla has a specialized focus on trauma and is a Certified First Responder Counselor. She uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy to help first responders and trauma survivors heal from the painful events that have left them feeling scared, overwhelmed, or stuck. Multiple media outlets have featured Darla’s work with trauma survivors from the Camp Fire in Butte County, including Men’s Health Magazine, High Country News, Mother Jones, NBCNews.com, ABC 10 Sacramento, KRCR News Channel 7, and Fox 40 News. Her work has also been mentioned in Vice Magazine.Darla is passionate about raising awareness of trauma and its effects on people’s lives. She is committed to helping her clients heal and find relief from the pain of trauma so they can move from victim to survivor to thriver. She has a unique approach to therapy that focuses on understanding an individual’s life story, allowing them to process their experiences in a safe and compassionate environment. Through therapy, Darla helps her clients identify patterns of behavior that may be preventing them from moving forward and overcoming their trauma.Darla is a highly experienced clinician who has worked with individuals struggling with addiction, PTSD, depression, anxiety, grief, and loss. In addition to her clinical work, she also provides crisis intervention services for survivors of natural disasters and first responders.She appreciates being able to relax and experience some quiet time in her busy life. She cherishes moments spent outdoors, embracing the beauty of God’s creation. She loves to read and travel with her husband and two dogs, often taking road trips to explore new places, which brings her closer to her family and gives them opportunities to create lasting memories. Darla has learned the importance of balance. She seeks relaxation and calm in her life. For her, it’s all about finding a balance between planning ahead and allowing for moments of freedom to explore her passions and interests. It is this balance that gives her strength and peace of mind, enabling her to stay focused on achieving her goals and striving for excellence. She is an inspiration to many, showing how balance can be beneficial to overall wellbeing and success.
