LaTreice V. Branson, MFa, GISFA
RADICAL ADVENTURES IN WELLNESS
"I guide those seeking wellness through the rocks and dirt, welcoming them to slide down tree trunks and giggle to the soundscape of bugs and crunchy, dry leaves. Our conversations are held sacred amongst the trees. There, we become well."
- LaTreice V Branson
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LATREICE
Wellness is an extension of our self-care practice. Caring for the self is a reflection of our self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-love. The RAW Method welcomes participants to re-imagine wellness through nature photography, guided conversations, leadership trainings, collaborative art making and adventures in Mother Nature.
With a focus on the rested life, encouraging physical endurance and spiritual renewal, rest is not achieved in sleep state alone, but in the amplitude, trough and crest of the awakened soul. There is a flow to the rested life, and as we remain alert to both spiritual and natural frequencies, we are able to allow wisdom to guide and preserve our energy.
Becoming well is challenging, and it not always comfortable. There is no immediate gratification in this method, but the long-term benefits are sustaining. What we must do to sustain a state of well-being will require adventure; we must be willing to reach outside of our comfort zone and explore new strategies to strengthen the mind, body and spirit through preparedness,patience,adaptation, perseverance, and rest.
The RAW Method welcomes us to "Empower our no and liberate our yes.'"
Why the RAW Method?
"Becoming well in a sick body"
I have been living with chronic pain and bipolar depression for most of my adult life. I first began experiencing pain as a child, and as I looked back, the only time that I was not plagued by my pain was while I was in the midst of my giving.
In 2014, I lost my career as a collegiate professor after a panic attack on the job. I was overworking, not caring for myself and trying to maintain my professional and personal life while on 4 psych medications prescribed by my doctor, for bipolar disorder.
After 4 years of trying to manage bipolar depression and a life-altering spine injury, with the help of my doctors and therapists, I was still unhappy and my depression was worsening.
In 2018, I called my father, and I told him that I was flushing all of my psych meds. I'd forgotten who I was before the medication and was determined to regain my mental clarity, zeal for life and overall well-being. I made a goal "to become well in a sick body". Managing chronic pain and mental illness through an intense and adventurous wellness practice takes hard work, dedication and commitment, and its results are most fulfilling.
My mission is curate spaces where individuals are welcomed to experience radical wellness, by reconnecting with their inner drum - the heart, by redirecting their pain receptors through touch, by exploring new challenges that invite us to re-imagine and diversify our personal wellness strategies.
Healing Hurt People
Drexel University Center for Non-Violence & Social Justice
“I loved how she explained how we all had different instruments, but she said, ‘Stay on your beat, your tempo. If somebody else switches up, just you know, make sure you stay doing your same beat. And you know, that kind of when it came together, it was pure music. It just kind of showed me, it spoke to me like, no matter what you’re doing or what someone else is doing, it can come together in a marvelous way. And also, I like how she was open to talk about her trauma."
"She kind of re-directed trauma, she re-identified trauma, she kind of like, with the music showed that you can use other forms to release your trauma, just like every other program or segment to this program. Every other teacher showing you ways to just redefine trauma and how to release it you know.”
Transcripts from Healing Hurt People Assessment
Wellness Lecture / Performances
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School
With the belief that we all have rhythm, I welcome college students, doctors, school faculty and community members to experience a new soundscape, rooted in improvisation, set to the beat of the drum, encouraging participants to use their gifts and talents to create positive change.
"I loved meeting other musicians. I'd never played drums before today, but you made me feel like I could. And I did." - from "The Jam Jawn" at Drew University
"Did you see my comment on your video last night? I wrote that your performance yesterday, with all the people, all the ethnicities, was a truly a preview of heaven!!!"