In this second edition of Sacred Wounds, coming nearly a decade after it’s initial publishing, we explore spiritual and religious trauma and the journey towards healing.
Join us at The Kota Alliance for a special Sacred Wounds Book Launch event with author Teresa Mateus, MSW, E-RYT 200.
About the Book:
If you've been deeply wounded by religious institutions or are seeking to understand and help those who have, Sacred Wounds, Second Edition offers a compassionate and practical guide to recovery. Teresa Mateus’s wisdom and experience will light your path to spiritual wholeness as she shares both her personal story as a trauma survivor and the stories of others who have faced similar spiritual wounds. You will gain insight from these diverse voices as you engage in healing and contemplative exercises to help you explore your spiritual story. Learn about the nature of trauma in religious settings and why it is unique—then discover practical ways to heal from spiritual trauma.
New to this second edition is a guide on being an ally, updates to reflect how western (primarily American) culture has changed, and a study guide.
About the Author:
Teresa Mateus, MSW, E-RYT 200, (she/her/ella) is a traumatologist, author, speaker and consultant at the intersections of spirituality, healing and social change. She a trained clinical social worker, yoga teacher, Q'ero Paqo initiated in Andean traditional healing, and a community-based full-spectrum Doula — centering the ethic of healing justice in all her work. She lives on Lenape land in the New York City metro area with her tiny-sized, big-dog-energy pup.
Teresa also serves as Programs & Grants Coordinator for The Kota Alliance.
Program Flow:
Light Snacks, Beverages + Community Welcome
Opening Ceremony + Ritual w/DeenaLynn Dockery-Collins
Book Reading w/Teresa Mateus
Q+A Hosted by Poet/Social Worker/Activist Betty Pierre
Book signing - books will be availble for purchase on site and available here for pre-order (released April 22, 2025).
Q+A Host: Betty Pierre, LMSW:
Betty Pierre, LMSW is a Haitian American Social Worker, Poet and Activist who lives, writes, and performs poetry in New York and Florida. She is the author of a poetry collection Babel 2007 (Infinity Publishing). Multilingual, she weaves Creole, French and Spanish into her poems reaching broad audiences with the scope of her pieces. She has published in community newspapers and received an Editor’s Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry (2006). She is a recognized Writer’s Digest International book award poet. She received a World of Poetry merit certificate for her poem Once the Bountiful. Her powerful poem Who is Jane? was published in the International Women’s Writers Guild Black History Month journal (2021). Her landmark poem, Who will Save the Children addressed the issues of child abuse. She is currently working on finalizing her second poetry collection, Nothing in Isolation. She is a member of the Bronx Council of the Arts, The National Writers Union, and the International Women’s Writer’s Guild.
Opening Ceremony + Ritual Facilitator: DeenaLynn Dockery-Collins, MSOM, LMT, CYT, RMT:
DeenaLynn holds a Master’s in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, an A.O.S. degree and licensure in Massage Therapy and is a Certified Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki Master and Teacher. Her holistic approach focuses on building curricula and partnerships that promote well-being, particularly within disenfranchised communities, including BIPOC/QTBIPOC+. With over 20 years of experience as a healer and trauma healing facilitator, DeenaLynn combines mindfulness, meditation, nutrition, movement, breath-work, and bodywork to help clients reset and achieve balance in their lives. Her journey as a healer began over 35 years ago, inspired by personal trauma and a deep desire for inner peace. This led her to spiritual healing, African spirituality, and alternative medicine. Today, her mission is to guide others toward conscious, joyful, and balanced living through natural healing techniques.
Additional Event Details:
If the event is sold out and you would like to be put on the waitlist, please email info@kota-alliance.org.
Please note that by attending the event, you consent to film or photos from the event, potentially including your image, being shared publicly.
📍 Location & Accessibility
The Kota Alliance is located in the historic Sugar Hill neighborhood of West Harlem in walking distance from the A/B/C/D 145th Station and C 155th Station, along the M3 bus line.
Parking is very limited, with few street spots; the nearest paid lots are at 414 W 155th St and 457 W 150th St. Please note that our historic building currently lacks wheelchair accessibility (we are actively fundraising to change this). There are steps up from street level, as well as additional steps in the house. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.