Aliza Tropper Hosts Sold-Out Wisdom of Trauma Screening

In November 2021, Aliza Tropper, founder of Heartful Mental Health, hosted a sold-out community screening of The Wisdom of Trauma, the acclaimed documentary featuring Dr. Gabor Maté. The event, held for the Five Towns community, drew over one hundred attendees, with people traveling in from across Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Aliza addressing the sold-out theater

The film sheds light on the ways trauma and intergenerational trauma shape mental health, relationships, and society. As Dr. Maté explains, “Trauma is not what happens to you. Trauma is what happens inside you, as a result of what happens to you.” The documentary highlights how trauma influences the way we love, the way we relate to others, and even the way we understand ourselves. It also shows how unresolved trauma can contribute to addictions and chronic illness, underscoring its wide-reaching impact on both emotional and physical health.

The Wisdom of Trauma points to the need for a trauma-informed society—one where schools, health care, and families shift from judgment and symptom suppression toward compassion and understanding. For many in attendance, the screening supported awareness of how these issues affect us all—whether through struggles with trauma, anxiety, addiction, chronic illness, or the challenges of parenting in today’s world. It also sparked reflection on the difficulty of staying present and connected as families face the constant pull of technology and modern distractions.

What made the evening especially powerful was the way the community came together. People of different backgrounds, ages, and experiences filled the room with openness and curiosity. There was a shared sense that this was more than a film—it was a collective moment of awareness, compassion, and connection. The energy in the room reflected just how deeply people are searching for meaningful conversations and opportunities to gather around issues that impact us all.

More than just a screening, the event became an opportunity for people to pause, reflect, and consider how compassion and understanding can lead to resilience and healing.

This special evening was hosted by Aliza Tropper, founder of Heartful Mental Health, who continues to create spaces that bring people together for meaningful awareness, growth, and connection.