I want to take a moment to acknowledge the mass shooting tragedies that have occurred in the US in Atlanta, GA on March 16th, 2021 and Boulder, CO on March 22nd, 2021. For families of other mass shootings, even those as long ago as Columbine, these events can be triggering, causing the reliving of grief, loss and fear for people across the country.
I want to make sure people have access to help. Jennifer Silacci and her organization, Therapy Aid Coalition, are providing resources for those traumatized by recent events. Therapy Aid Coalition organizes a network of psychotherapists nationwide to respond to crises such as first responders to the pandemic, wildfires, as well as those impacted by mass shootings and other traumatic events.
If you are a Colorado therapist and want to volunteer locally, you can sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/MdbBTYSS7tqqVCQDA for the best placement. We appreciate your assistance in this time of need.
As we deal with the collective trauma of mass shootings across the country, we also need tools for both therapists and individuals to calm and regulate their nervous systems and stay grounded. I have shared several exercises in the video below to help us as we all process this senseless violence against members of our communities.
Yours in Healing,
Dr. Diane Poole Heller
