In 2003, The Catalyst Foundation, a California nonprofit organization, launched "Creating a Healing Society" (CHS), the concepts of which grew out of the life experiences of the Catalyst founders and CHS program staff, as well as through Catalyst's work with incarcerated teens and people living with HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV). CHS strives for social change through public education about the impact of human emotional pain and trauma as driving forces underlying many of the most serious problems facing our society today. CHS creates change by raising awareness of the importance of examining the root causes of social problems, such as what factors drive the anti-social and/or self-destructive behaviors of human beings. The program teaches that, unless these factors (which are the effects of abuse, neglect, trauma, or difficult life situations unconsciously re-enacted through behavior) are addressed, it will not be possible to find meaningful solutions to society's problems.

CHS workshops illustrate the dramatic impact on society when an enormous number of individuals unconsciously re-enact their experiences of trauma, abuse, or lack of healthy support in self-destructive or anti-social ways: that the cumulative result of these pain-driven behaviors can be seen in our violent and crime-ridden society; in unemployment, homelessness and poverty; in the ongoing cycle of child abuse and neglect; and in the epidemics of AIDS, Hepatitis C, drug addition and alcoholism. The workshops empower participants to utilize this new information and awareness to make positive change for themselves and for others in society. The program leaders, Catalyst Founder and Executive Director Susan Lawrence, M.D., and CHS Program Director David Mashore, provide CHS workshops which have been enthusiastically received by a wide variety of local, regional, and national groups, organizations, and conferences, including the Outreach Workers Conference in Austin, Texas; the Creativity and Madness continuing professional education conference in Maui, Hawaii; and the reservation of the Apache People in San Carlos, Arizona.

We offer a variety of presentations, workshops, and training programs which can be tailored for your group, organization, or conference. Please visit the Media link or contact us for more information.