The Lifeworks Group, Inc.

By: Christine Hammond LMHC Sadly, the state our nation is such that school shootings have become a regular part of news reports. And while each tragedy is unique in the details, victims, environment, and perpetrators, the common dominator is a desire to return to normal as soon as possible. These catastrophes often unite friends, families, communities, and causes. The irony is that most perpetrators want to destroy the lives around them, generate fear in their victims, and isolate instead of unify. But instead, volunteers come together in droves, money is raised in support of the victim’s families and communities have slogans of strength and fortitude. Yet the heaviness of the situation remains and cries out to be healed. Attempts at normalization are hard. Here are 8 steps that can improve the process. This can be used for adults and students who are directly or indirectly impacted by the trauma. Even hearing about school shootings second hand can often trig...

Strategies for Parents and Teachers in screening for STS; Secondary Traumatic Stress after a Community Shooting     Psychological Coping Strategies from Dwight Bain, LMHC “If you can talk through it – you can get through it” types of normal reactions to crisis Trauma – Any event outside the usual realm of human experience that is markedly distressing, (which creates horror, helplessness or terror.) Such traumatic stressors usually involve the perceived threat to one’s physical integrity or to the physical integrity of someone in close proximity. This is the very intense psychological reaction to feeling highly threatened, which is normal. Children experience Traumatic Stress differently based on age and maturity level as this recovery guide will outline as a tool for parents and teachers.  Secondary Traumatic Stress Traumatic stress overwhelms coping mechanisms leaving students feeling out of control and helpless. Con...