Parents may notice that their teen is either unaffected by the tragedies in Haiti or they are obsessed with watching the news. Some teens feel the best thing to do is act on their feelings by doing fundraising or collecting supplies to benefit the disaster relief efforts in Haiti. This is a great way to handle stress they may feel at following the news.
Therapists at Group Therapy Associates, a psychotherapy practice in Haymarket, VA, recently started offering one hour of free counseling to anyone impacted by the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Those who have lost someone or have missing loved ones in Haiti now can come in for a free appointment to get support and comfort in this difficult time. They are also offering this service to anyone experiencing anxiety or traumatic stress in reaction to what has happened.
"This is a tragedy with far-reaching impact," said Esther Boykin, LMFT, co-owner of Group Therapy Associates. "Not only is it difficult for those who are directly impacted, but for many people, the images and news reports can be overwhelming and trigger existing anxiety and PTSD symptoms."
If you think your teen is emotionally affected by the news of the devastation in this nearby island country, you should open the lines of communication with him or her. Try to funnel his or her anxiety or sadness into something useful, like contributing to charities dedicated to disaster relief. Or perhaps find out if someone in their school may have been personally affected and offer a helping hand. Ask your church, mosque or synagogue if they are involved in relief efforts. Teens often empathize with people suffering and can be very effective at helping those in need.
If you think they are deeply affected, contact an organization like Group Therapy Associates, your clergy or even their school counselor and ask for help. To get more information or schedule your free session, visit www.grouptherapyassociates.org or call 703-644-8041.
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