Posts Tagged ‘Trauma’
New Year’s Resolutions After Losing a Loved One
Written by: Rachel Martinez, Victim Services Coordinator While many people start off the new year with resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, or spend less money, these resolutions might seem unimportant or daunting to those stepping into the new year without a loved one. Others might want to create a resolution in coping with their…
Read MoreAntiTerrorism and Emergency Assistance Program Grant
VSS has more exciting news! We were awarded with a $108,000 AntiTerrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) grant! With these funds, we are opening a new office in Skagit County and will be hiring a mental health therapist. Free trauma-informed therapy will be provided to victims and those affected by the Cascade Mall tragedy…
Read MoreOUR NEGATIVE SELF TALK
Written by: Julie Thomas, Director of Victim Services and Training I often encounter people in the course of my work who tell me “I am my own worst enemy”. It is so easy for us to believe the worst about ourselves, to put ourselves down, to litter our days’ thoughts with negative self-talk. Somewhere in our…
Read MoreThe Symptoms of Chronic Stress, Part 2
Written by: Julie Thomas, Director of Victim Services and Training What is stress anyway? Is it bad, is it good? Stress is simply the non-specific response of the body to anything in life which causes people to have to adjust or alter attention, behavior and/or demands of energy. It is a survival mechanism. Stress, when properly managed, is constructive…
Read MoreGrieving Youth Returning to School
Written by: Katy Percini, MA, LMFT, Mental Health Therapist Heading back to school after the summer break can be an exciting time for many students. For others, returning to school can cause anxiety, depression, and stress. When a child is grieving the death of a loved one, returning to school can be even more difficult.…
Read MoreDon’t Worry, Be Happy….Part 1 of the Symptoms of Stress
Written by: Julie Thomas, Director of Victim Services and Training Are you a worrier? That is a question I ask participants in my Emotional Wellness classes that I teach for VSS. Inevitably many slowly raise their hands, some blurt out, “Oh Yes!” “Are you kidding?” “Lifelong worrier.” Worrying in this day and age almost seems to…
Read MoreFourth of July: Triggers
Written by: Kimi Nolte, MPH, MSW, Lead Victim Services Coordinator On the fourth of July, most people look forward to the BBQs, firework displays and spending time with their loved ones. However, the holidays can be difficult for a number of reasons, especially if you and your family experienced a traumatic loss. Today, we’d like…
Read MoreThe Myths & Facts of Stalking
Written by: Maia McCoy, MSW, Victim Services Coordinator Myth #1: Stalking happens only between intimate partners. Fact: It is true that overwhelmingly, stalking victims are stalked by an intimate partner. 44% of male victims and 61% of female victims are stalked by an intimate partner. However, many stalking cases occur between acquaintances. What this means…
Read MoreManaging Triggers
Written by: Maia McCoy, Victim Services Coordinator The word “trigger” has become so ubiquitous in our vernacular that it has lost meaning. “Trigger” is used when one’s buttons are pushed, when one is vexed, frustrated, or fed up. “I was so triggered.” However, many annoyances do not rise to the level of trauma, and by…
Read MoreAn Introduction to Guided Meditation
Written by: Maia McCoy, MSW, Victim Services Coordinator What is guided meditation, and how can it help trauma survivors? Meditation is the practice of paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations from a place of non-judgment. Guided meditation is meditation in which the practitioner follows the lead of a teacher or audio guide. The…
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