the very least, the foundation for thriving in adversity was laid. What is crucial is that this process did not create a false sense of hope based on intense emotions. I found that the TOL process was designed to assist participants in finding strength from within themselves so they could face the realities of their circumstances. While some of the sessions were clearly emotional––especially the trauma circle––facilitators did not try to play on emotions; they were acknowledged, honored, and accepted with a sense of reverence and respect for each individual’s experiences. The TOL process did not focus on the need to forgive and reconcile with one’s “enemies” as a precondition for healing––important as this might be––it was up to the individual to choose how he/she related to the external circumstance, after dealing with the inner self. The process did not ask participants to acquiesce to the injustice around them; rather it sought to assist participants in dealing with themselves, so they could address their injustices without being blinded by their pain and desire for vengeance. In this regard my fears that the workshop would make participants more open to further oppression and abuse by their perpetrators were allayed. The process set the participants on a road towards a measure of relief and gave them the courage to face their daily realities, not as bitter, defeated victims, but as victorious survivors. As “B” put it, Tree of Life gave us an insight into how we can heal as individuals and also empowered us in our quest for resources that would obviously sober down and give us a direction of inducing the rest of the communities around to do the same. This action also brought to the fore the need to back up such processes with broader and nationwide activities, such as truth-telling, apology, acknowledgement, seeking justice, and even change of political status quo, if healing is to be far-reaching and more effective. Nevertheless, as interim measures, processes such as the Tree of Life and similar group-based psychosocial storytelling approaches have a crucial role to play in the search for healing in communities affected by organized violence.