When the sounds of gunshots fade, the loss of a loved one, the sight of blood, and the aftermath of violence cast a dark shadow on the heart and soul of an individual. This weight of trauma can leave a person in deep pain, often leaving them grappling with feelings of vulnerability, anxiety, and despair.
That’s where psychotherapy and counseling come into play.
The counseling sessions help individuals cope with the trauma, guiding them to process the emotions and foster emotional healing. These sessions can help an individual rebuild their compassion and resilience, which will eventually lead to transformation.
What Do Survivors Of Gun Violence Go Through?
The survivors of gun violence who have lost their loved ones go through a wide range of emotions. However, not all will go through the same thing, and the emotions certainly depend on personal characteristics.
Here are some of the common emotions that survivors undergo:
- Fear and Anxiety
- Grief and Loss
- Shock and Disbelief
- Isolation
- Survivor’s Guilt
- Physical Symptoms
- Depression
- Difficulty Developing Trust
How Psychotherapy And Counseling Helps
It is important that an individual rebound and return to their normal lifestyle. Life doesn’t stop, and simply existing and not living can result in various health complications. These complications can either be physical or emotional.
Since psychotherapy and counseling treatments deal with emotional complexity, most importantly, the sessions provide a safe and non-judgmental space for the survivors.
Let’s take a look at how therapists help survivors.
Trauma Healing
- Offers trauma-focused therapies like CBT, EMDR, and so on
- Identify negative thought patterns and reframe them to reduce distressing symptoms
- Tools and teaches various ways to desensitize from emotional impact
Teaching Various Coping Strategies
- Teach healthy coping mechanisms to regulate emotions
- Learn various breathing exercises to enhance your stress management techniques
- Teach mindfulness exercises to create present-moment awareness
Offering Community Support
- Sharing stories to empower and encourage
- Reduce isolation by learning that you are not alone in your journey
- Learn about other coping strategies
Support In Difficult Times
- Getting a safe space to process their grief
- Exploring the emotional complexities due to the loss of loved ones
- Figuring out new way to honor the memories of loved ones
Addressing Survivor’s Guilt
- Compassionate guidance to process the guilt, change irrational beliefs
- Develop self-compassion and build fresh perspectives
- Overcome the idea that they are responsible for such fate
How Do I Find Psychotherapy and Counseling Sessions in Mesa, AZ?
The aftermath of gun violence creates a tumultuous wave of emotions inside a person. This emotional complexity cannot be solved in a day and requires a tailored approach to helping people. By addressing the various complexities of emotions, psychotherapy and counseling help an individual cultivate resilience, foster emotional well-being, and promote healing.
If you are looking for an affordable psychotherapy and counseling session for you or your loved one, get in touch with Azitts, or Arizona Integrated Telepsychiatry Services, in Mesa, Arizona.
The trained staff at Azitts understands the root cause of such emotions. By understanding the emotions, the therapist helps you develop fresh perspectives by overcoming grief and loss.
To learn more about psychotherapy and counseling sessions, contact us.
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