In an effort to offer a healthy alternative to our less healthy “habits of surviving” Dr. Balamani developed a model of care for women of color, referred to as SHOUT (Sisters Helping Others Understand Themselves). The model takes small groups of women (no more than seven) on a journey of self-exploration. The group facilitator guides the group through seven areas of inquiry designed to raise the consciousness, sensitivity, an understanding of the individual and collective groups life journey, and to offer opportunities, and accountability for healing and empowerment. Hundreds of women have had a liberating experience through their participation in a SHOUT group; many have radically changed their lives for the better. On two occasions the group format has been altered to assist groups of men with their self-exploration with great results.

Dr. Balamani sees the SHOUT model of care described in the book "Dancing on our graves", as a gift from God. She states, “I have proceeded on the premise that self-knowledge is an empowering gift from God, a partnership with the Divine Liberator. It is a foundation for overcoming oppression, that gives birth to depression, and therefore for learning how to Dance on Our Graves.”    Dr Balamani says that she uses dance as a metaphor in her book because as a former student of dance she was aware of the multiple uses of dance in culture. She explains, “One use in the African culture is to prepare for battle. In this context the use of dancing in the book symbolizes preparation for psychological and theological confrontation, in a sense, preparation to do battle with denial and the internal processes that oppress us, and assist us in oppressing ourselves. In the same tradition dance is also used to celebrate a victory. In this context the use of dancing represents the victory of our God over the forces of our oppression. Dr. Balamani utilizes the biblical story of Hagar, a woman of African descent, who ran into God in the wilderness, while running away from the things that oppressed her, as a basis for the her model of care, because Hagar received a promise from God that she would be blessed if she returned to face her oppression, and overcome it, rather than running from it.

 

Dr. Michele DeLeaver Balamani is a licensed psychotherapist and an ordained minister.  She is the founding director of Baraka Pastoral Counseling Center in Largo, Maryland and the founder and president of Dancing On Our Graves Institute for Life Enrichment.  She is a popular speaker, and workshop facilitator throughout the United States and the Caribbean, and can be reached for SHOUT information and her book at dancingonourgraves@hotmail.com or you may send for her book, by enclosing $15.00 (S&H included) to P.O.Box 328, Clinton, MD. 20735.  Call

(301) 567-7299 for information on credit card purchases.