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| May 1, 2005 |
The Headliner
Portland, Oregon |
Spring 2005
Volume VII, Issue 2 |
Bittin Foster Duggan, MA, sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in July 1989. Bittin’s recovery from being in a five-day coma (sever edema to the right frontal lobe) was grounded in her artistic abilities to grow beyond the injury to form a meaningful life. Bittin’s creative healing (recovery) approach inspires her to continually grow herself and give what she has learned to others via her passionate attitude and the Growing Through ItSM (GTI) Program.
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"Breaking Boundaries" 10-panel, 3-D, journal-laden, oil painting collage on masonite St. Francis Health Care Centre, Green Springs, OH October 1999 11’ x 11' |
In 1993, GTI began as an art workshop only, using similar artistic techniques that Bittin used to create “Breaking Boundaries”. The GTI art workshop invites participating members to be cocreators as creation parallels the process of healing. Members generate a visual and verbal expression of their “Life Truth.” The results are phenomenal – graduates elate with positive feelings; the shared experience leaves most with excitement about newfound beliefs. The completed physical product is a 3-D, text-laden, acrylic art piece. A unique book accompanies the piece that documents the entire creation process and a group-generated story about what the art piece means to the members. Finished pieces are exhibited in the community to celebrate graduates and to educate others about diverse life experiences.
Currently, GTI is focused on offering services to the West Coast by providing opportunities for people to improve the quality of their lives through four program branches:
•direct GTI Workshop facilitation (the ever –evolving GTI Art Workshop);
•GTI Workshop Facilitation Training (certifying professionals to facilitate GTI Workshops);
•Personal and Professional Consultation (artistic and recovery oriented); and
•Conference Presentations (recovery, creative process, & healing oriented).
Please visit www.growingthroughit.org to:
•discover the honest passions that people from across the country have shared on their healing journey in the Workshop Gallery;
• explore and/or post growing expressions in the Graduates Gallery;
•leaf through the Press Gallery to read GTI articles;
•peruse Bittin's Gallery and see the world through her eyes – before, during and after her TBI – as she’s traveled near and far;
•familiarize yourself with GTI Services and Contact Us to schedule or inquire;
•check out the numerous Links as possible directions for personal growth;
•learn About Us and join our Mailing List to be contacted with program updates.
Today, GTI is based in Eugene OR. Bittin is assisted by the GTI Development Team: Webmaster John Schinnerer; Donna Widener, Assistant Director; and Sakti Safarti, Assistant Editor. We also want to acknowledge the essential few who have performed tedious tasks to ensure the web site is complete.
Personally, Bittin, her husband, Bryan, and their two young daughters grow with the joys and challenges of family life every day!
As we continue to grow and discover - be kind, live in love, peace, and acceptance.
For more detailed information, please visit www.growingthroughit.org
or contact Bittin at bittin@growingthroughit.org
