Ed Wierzbicki
Ed Wierzbicki (CFA’79, COM’90) of Wethersfield, Conn., writes, “As a career-long film and theater producer and educator, I have been involved in a unique program to advance the training of psychotherapists who work closely with young people dealing with trauma. I produce and direct two film series for the University of Connecticut Health Center and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network at Duke University. Critical Moments is a series of film and training webinars that features original docudrama-style films created by way of a collaborative process that begins with actual trauma case studies that are then re-envisioned by our team of therapists, actors, and filmmakers. In our other series, Digital Diaries: Rx, which is part of a new interactive website for both young people in therapy and therapists, participants go inside the world of six young people we’ve nicknamed the Trauma Avengers. Nothing comic book here—these teens use their cell phones and devices to record an ongoing personal journal to navigate through the week between sessions, which they share with their therapist. Emotionally raw and powerful, it’s a chance to demonstrate how journaling can deepen therapy treatment. Over the years, I have been fortunate to be a part of productions that involve some fascinating creative work. As a multiple Emmy winner who’s worked alongside many amazing theater, film, and dance artists, and produced many cultural and educational projects for PBS, I can honestly say that this is the most important, community-centered work I’ve been a part of in my career. Our team realizes, more than ever as we continue to navigate through COVID, that our nation’s mental health needs more attention and resources—especially in young people.”
From the Spring-Summer 2022 issue.