The most recent mass shooting had me and my friends discussing the question that every parent seems to be asking, “How am I going to tell my kids?” Some of us may be wondering if we should even tell our kids or what to look out for if our kids are particularly sensitive or easily worried. Here are a few guidelines to talking about this recent tragedy with your kids and some links to other articles that we at Clearer Skies think are especially helpful.
 
 

Clearer Skies Counseling is a project that has been on my mind for a long time-  a collaboration of therapists, specifically social workers, who are able to help individuals and families both by being resources to the clients, but also by being resources to each other.  A place where the clinicians all believe that it is not only the individual storms that impact our day, but also the political climate, the social neighborhood that we live and grew up in, and the residual effects of traumas both big and small. 

After working with Child Welfare, domestic violence shelters and the emergency department of a major hospital, I have had the opportunity to hone some serious trauma and crisis skills. I have developed a passion for helping people during these intense times to find resources, supports and care in a compassionate way that they may not have experienced before. I have found myself spending more and more time with each patient in an effort to provide the therapeutic connection that many of the patients seem to need and I know I want to offer. I have been asked repeatedly if I can offer regular counseling to patients, co-workers and colleagues but I knew that I wanted to have some other pieces in place first. 

In the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to have met some incredible clinicians who share the same values and world views and the vision of a collaborative work space was finally coming together.  I knew that I wanted to be able to offer any client that I worked with referrals to incredible services in the community that could support their entire well being, not just the part that we were working on.  Through support from other great providers in our community, including a doula team, midwife team, several medical doctors, drug and alcohol counselors, social work mentors, counselors and colleagues in other healing modalities, we are excited to be opening our doors to see clients, complimented by a full spectrum of caring referrals. 

Clearer Skies Counseling will officially open hours in May, 2016 with the goal of helping our community here in Portland, OR be a healthier, happier place. Please check back here for updates on our process, thoughts about trauma informed care and other great stuff!