Processing Grief & Trauma in Therapy: Life After The Texas Hill Country Flooding

Reflecting on the devastating flooding tragedy that occurred in the Texas Hill Country this past holiday weekend, I’m overwhelmed with feelings of grief, loss, and empathy for those who lost their loved ones. 

Anyone who has had the privilege of attending a sleepaway camp knows that summer camp is a place of pure childhood joy. The friendships that I made at sleepaway camp in the Texas Hill Country, and the lessons I learned about independence, faith, courage, strength, friendship, and the simple joys of summertime in Texas are foundational core memories of my childhood growing up in Texas. Attending summer camp for fourteen years, both as a camper and then as a counselor, helped shape me into the woman I am today. I cannot imagine the contrast of such a devastating tragedy happening in a place that represents so much purity, joy, and tradition. My heart is with anyone who has lost a loved one, especially those parents who lost their eight-year-old daughters while away at Camp Mystic. 

Healing from grief and trauma is a non-linear experience. Grief and trauma also evoke stark contrasts: a patriotic, summertime holiday juxtaposed with a life-altering tragedy, making lunch while reeling over the traumatic loss of a loved one, or going back to work after grief & loss have forever changed your life. 

Most of the time, the only way to truly heal is to go through the pain, honor the pain, and look the pain straight in the eye - welcoming it to walk alongside you - until one day, you can move through the pain and loss without fear of its presence in your life. 

But the person who moves through the pain is like a caterpillar breaking through a chrysalis: there is pain and suffering that occurs as one transforms through the darkness and into the light.

As a trauma specialist, I’d be honored to offer a select few individuals, teenagers, couples, or families complementary therapy & EMDR trauma therapy sessions to help those impacted by the Texas Hill Country flooding.

I’d love to walk alongside you and to help support you on your journey towards healing. For more information, please visit: https://www.alignedtherapycollective.com/hill-country-flood-trauma-support