Disasters, Crises, and Trauma-causing events
Disasters, Crises, and Trauma-causing events
Recently, many crises have occurred and it is difficult to choose among them but I will focus on the recent flooding in Colorado and the sudden death of a loved one by gun violence. The effects of these events will be different on the survivors, first- responders ,and the therapists who help them heal. I went to school at University of Colorado in Boulder, so I have a strong affinity for the area and people. The severe flooding in Boulder was life-threatening, causing death and many rescues. The rushing water cut off roads and the first-responders could not reach whole towns and knew the residents were in desperate need of help. The survivors of the flood would be in shock and need shelter, food, and medical attention.
They will need these physical needs met first because they had suddenly lost everything that they possessed. This new world was very different from the world they knew and loved. Their comfortable normalcy. their security was taken away from them. A counselor arriving on the scene would relieve this shock of the survivors through bilateral stimulation and help their brain function again by using CBT. They will be cold, need blankets and dry clothes, shelter, and try to locate all their loved ones, if possible. Later, they will need food and community, groups who will support them, and the grief and loss will sink in.. First-responders will try to bring order to the chaos and not being able to reach some in need will create tension. They have witnessed death and destruction but have probably witnessed these before. The survivors ' losses will undoubtedly affect them and will need to be addressed through talk therapy or massage therapy. The mental health counselor treating these survivors might develop vicarious traumatization by working with people who are completely devastated and may have lost loved ones, friends, and all of their possessions . When they are ready to
Recently, many crises have occurred and it is difficult to choose among them but I will focus on the recent flooding in Colorado and the sudden death of a loved one by gun violence. The effects of these events will be different on the survivors, first- responders ,and the therapists who help them heal. I went to school at University of Colorado in Boulder, so I have a strong affinity for the area and people. The severe flooding in Boulder was life-threatening, causing death and many rescues. The rushing water cut off roads and the first-responders could not reach whole towns and knew the residents were in desperate need of help. The survivors of the flood would be in shock and need shelter, food, and medical attention.
They will need these physical needs met first because they had suddenly lost everything that they possessed. This new world was very different from the world they knew and loved. Their comfortable normalcy. their security was taken away from them. A counselor arriving on the scene would relieve this shock of the survivors through bilateral stimulation and help their brain function again by using CBT. They will be cold, need blankets and dry clothes, shelter, and try to locate all their loved ones, if possible. Later, they will need food and community, groups who will support them, and the grief and loss will sink in.. First-responders will try to bring order to the chaos and not being able to reach some in need will create tension. They have witnessed death and destruction but have probably witnessed these before. The survivors ' losses will undoubtedly affect them and will need to be addressed through talk therapy or massage therapy. The mental health counselor treating these survivors might develop vicarious traumatization by working with people who are completely devastated and may have lost loved ones, friends, and all of their possessions . When they are ready to
References: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Interview with Dr. Ruth Moore. Baltimore, MD: Author. Trippany, R. L., White Kress, V. E., & Wilcoxon, S. A. (2004). Preventing vicarious trauma: What counselors should know when working with trauma survivors. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82(1), 31–37. Shallcross, L. (2012, February). A calming presence. Counseling Today. Retrieved from http://ct.counseling.org/2012/02/a-calming-presence/