Becoming Athena:
Poems by Women in Recovery
(2024)
The raw and charmed voices of women newly in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Meeting in a weekly circle, sixteen to twenty-five women came together to listen to their hearts, write and share in a healing creative process. Facilitated by Transformational Arts, Writing and Resilience & Recovery Specialist Centa Therese, MA.
Praise for Becoming Athena
As the Director of a substance abuse treatment program for women, I have witnessed the value of Centa's incredible work. Women often come to us very broken from a multitude of different traumas that led them down the path of addiction. Many have no idea how to use their own voice to express their feelings or speak up for themselves. Centa's work with the woman has given them an outlet of expression that has been invaluable to the work they do on themselves. I have an immense amount of gratitude for this work and opportunity for our clients.
— Sylvie Vatinelle-DeLacruz
I always looked forward to Centa's creative writing class while I was in treatment. It was a place where I got unreservedly express myself when I was in a morass of chaos and transition. It was a time I treasured where I could fully - just be. Thank you Centa.
— Shannon Cavanagh
It was at times joyful and at other times painful, working on the assignments Centa gave us. Some exercises were funny, and others pulled things out of the depths inside of me, things I didn't know were there. As I'd been anesthetized for so long, I really felt that there was nothing left of 'me' ... Enjoy, dear reader, knowing that these offerings come from damaged soul who have a rare beauty that must seen (read) and appreciated.