Interview Series: Janae Weinhold: Psychologist, Author & Humanitarian
In this Issue:
Meow,
Kat's Interview: Janae
Weinhold -- Psychologist, Author & Humanitarian
Janae Weinhold placed an order back in November and asked about our ability
to support her humanitarian work in the Ukrainian.
The Co-op typically supports local charities and individuals, yet her story
of humanitarian work is compelling, so we wanted to share it more broadly.
It was April of 1986, three days after the Chernobyl nuclear reactor blew up,
and Europe still had little to no awareness of what happened. Janae and her
husband, Barry, were in Zurich that fateful spring, on a much-anticipated
sabbatical.
Little did they know that their lives would be changed forever and that
Chernobyl and Ukraine would play important roles in their lives for many years
to come.
Psychologists (originally from the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs
and now in Asheville, NC),
the Weinholds
returned to Europe in 1990 to share knowledge of western business practices and
“practical” psychology.
Offering short seminars on their cruise along the River Dnieper in the
Ukraine, the Weinholds spent a week together with 150 Ukrainians and 30 Americans.
Janae recalls, “The Ukrainians had an intense desire to get to know us
personally, and we were able to do so through translators.
With the help of two Ukrainian psychologists, Janae and her husband facilitated
meaningful cross-cultural conversations that ranged from the Cold War and
politics to all things personal, including parenting and intimacy.
Janae said, “After our trip, we stayed in touch with our Ukrainian friends. We invited them and others to
Colorado to study practical psychology, and we continued working to
bring modern therapy practices to the Ukraine.”
Eventually the Weinholds led a team of American specialists to Kiev to assess
the human fallout from the Chernobyl disaster. The Americans listened
for hours as families living near the reactor shared for the first time their
horrifying experiences after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Janae shared, “We sat with families and heard terrible stories of shock and loss, their feelings of being betrayed by their political system and
about their antiquated medical system, which was ill-equipped to deal with such
a large-scale
catastrophe.”
Stories included those of villagers who stood outside, watching the
radioactive fire burn the day the reactor blew. One woman obsessively washed
dust from her deck, never considering the radioactive nature of the fallout
material.
Sadly, when it came time for medical treatment, survivors were “given a pat on the
shoulder and hugs, but little more.”
The government ordered everyone to leave their homes. They were told to get
their pocketbooks, get on a bus, and not to worry, because they would not be
‘gone for long.’ Instead, survivors were sent to government flats on the outskirts of
the city and were left there for five years without little if any attention from
government agencies.
Janae made impassioned pleas for the parents to seek help for both their
children and themselves. Collectively, the parents conducted numerous sit-ins
at the Ukrainian Ministry of Health. These experiences helped participants become proactive and break free of their sense of helplessness.
It became obvious that suffering in the Ukraine would be long-term. With that
in mind, Janae and Barry partnered with Ukrainian colleagues to create a
psychological support network and leadership training programs for supporting
generations to come.
In 1993, after three trips to the Ukraine, Janae decided to wear a dosimeter
badge – a badge worn in diagnostic or radiology centers to monitor radiation
exposure – on her next trip.
Janae matter-of-factly stated, “When I sent the badge in for a reading, it
showed I had gotten 10 years quota of radiation in one week. I decided to
slow down and stop my trips for awhile.”
In 1994, the Weinholds helped their Ukrainian colleague, Dr. Valentina Bondarovksaya,
found ROZRADA, a family training center offering practical psychology services
for Chernobyl survivors. ROZRADA later expanded its mission to include the
delivery of consulting services to businesses, government agencies and schools -
in addition to private counseling services for individuals, couples and families.
Given the huge exposure to radiation from the Chernobyl blast, cancer has
reached epidemic proportions in the Ukraine. While radiation exposure and fast-growing cancers killed
many within weeks to months, slow-growing cancers continue to
emerge among the affected population in
disproportionate numbers.
Janae and Barry, both published authors, specialize in a developmental
approach to psychological issues ranging from
intimacy to conflict
resolution, and they apply their methods to support healing within their
adopted
Ukrainian communities.
While Janae has not battled cancer herself, cancer has hit her inner circle.
Her father-in-law and husband have both battled and survived cancer just through
diet and nutrition. Those experiences brought Janae to the Co-op through
Bill
Henderson.
Janae recounts, “My husband found Bill Henderson’s book, Beating Cancer
Gently, when my father-in-law was diagnosed with cancer. He went on to attend
seminars on Bill’s program, which is where he found out about the Co-op’s
Greens
Plus and Heart Plus.”
It’s a fact that the Co-op has had a long history of referrals from Bill
Henderson, whose book outlines a non-toxic, nutrition- and supplements-oriented
approach to beating cancer. So if you are one of Bill’s fans, let him know you
read about him through Janae’s story here! ^..^
As background, Bill has been studying all things cancer for over 8 years, and
this kat often hears members singing Bill’s praises. Bill writes on his site:
“To get to this regimen, I have studied cancer treatment every day for the
last eight years -- since 1998, when I first realized all the information that
was available even then on the Internet. I've sifted through hundreds of
'alternative' cancer 'cures.'
I've talked to thousands of cancer survivors, cancer doctors, nutritionists,
nurses, cancer experts of all kinds. I've read everything I could get my hands
on. I am on a mission -- a crusade, if you will -- to help as many people as
possible avoid my former wife's fate.”
Given the severe and long-term cancer epidemic still facing many
Ukrainians, Janae also decided, despite radiation dangers, she will again
begin traveling back to the Ukraine.
She says, “I’m 63 years old. I’ve reached a point where I’m just going to
serve, and if I die serving, at least I will know that I served.”
These days, Janae is known for evangelizing the use of the Budwig protocol (a
flaxseed oil and cottage cheese combo popularized by
Johanna Budwig)
and also for sending nutritional products through her non-profit to her
Ukrainian community.
Because most Ukrainians make less than $500 per month and cannot afford to
pay for Western supplements, Janae sends supplements to her Ukrainian
contacts for distribution to those in need. After starting this very much
in-demand program, Janae called the Co-op to discuss potential supplement
contributions. The humans hooked this kat up with Janae, and here we are!
Janae remarked on the changes she has seen in the Ukraine over the last two
decades, “Many of the people in high positions in the Ukraine have cancer and
are very committed to projects that groom future leaders to govern well and to face
cancer as a culture.”
To this end, Janae and her husband continue to volunteer their time to help
Ukrainians develop themselves – as leaders and particularly in the field of
psychology, in a country filled with paradoxes.
Janae shared, "While there’s still much healing to be done, Ukrainians seemed to have
reached deep into their souls and reinvented themselves, their culture and their
hope for the future."
If you would like to write to Janae or are interested in supporting her
humanitarian work in the Ukraine, here’s how to contact her:
janaeb@weinholds.org or 828-686-5590
We’re happy to highlight Janae’s and Barry’s work and to spread their story
of hope and humanitarianism. And, we are very grateful to be connected to such
exceptional human beings.
Health in the News
The gals in Salt Lake did one of those screaks (yes, half squeak, half
scream) on Monday. As they opened the door to their office, what looked like a
very odd rat was trying to get inside.
The “rat” on closer inspection, was a “bat” in bad shape. They spent almost
an hour fretting over that bat, which they knew better than to touch.
When they left for the day, the little bat was nowhere to be found, and the
gals hung their heads in sadness. Sigh. Humans can be such softies sometimes.
Well, enough for one day. Drop a line if you have a story to share.
Still purringly yours,
Guido
Guido Housemouser
Chief Kat and Community Manager
Our Health Co-op
4188 Westroads Drive,
Unit 123
Riviera Beach, FL 33407
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