WOMEN UNITE!
By Gabe Licht, Daily Reporter Staff
More than 200 women gathered at Legends Social and Events Center Friday night to support Centers Against Abuse and Sexual Assault, listen to encouraging speakers, dance and laugh together in unity and honor this year’s Outstanding Woman Rhonda Wedeking, who was also the emcee for the event.
Collectively, the events created the 2011 Women’s Night Out.
Following entertainment by Billie James, New Orleans’ residents Ecoee Rooney and Kate Finlayson shared their stories.
Rooney is a trauma nurse who experienced Hurricane Katrina firsthand. Following the disaster, Rooney met a psychologist from Los Angeles who taught her Thought Field Therapy, which is also referred to as Tapping Therapy.
“After the storm, people were so desperate that they would try anything,” Rooney said. “That’s the point where we got. We were so messed up, we were so hurt that we didn’t even care.”
Stress levels started at a level 8 and were reduced to .75 through using the tapping therapy, which Rooney now believes in and shares with others. The method is used throughout the United States in trauma centers and is also utilized by the military to treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“Now take that energy home to your families,” Rooney instructed the group.