VCRN responds to Virginia Beach to assist with healing

When a community experiences a traumatic event the need often overwhelms the local resources available. Citizens and first responders are often struggling with distressing thoughts, memories and negative beliefs about themselves (I should have done more, it’s my fault etc.)

EMDR is psychotherapy with certain protocols that can help release the negative energy and beliefs and this is what the VCRN members are trained in and provide free of charge to communities after disasters or major traumatic events in Virginia.

I think of it as we store stressful energy in a balloon. It goes up and down in our daily life sometimes larger and full and other times we can release what’s in the balloon. When we experience a traumatic event that balloon is blown way up and we can’t let it out. EMDR helps deflate the balloon enough so we feel better and can move on. 2 of our therapists at Heart & Mind are trained in Emdr and volunteer with VCRN.

Here is more from the website www.vcrn.org

As a network of over 50 specially trained EMDR clinicians, we volunteer to respond to traumatic events that occur in Virginia and that have the capacity to overwhelm a community. Examples include but are not limited to natural disasters, violence, work-related accidents, and environmental disasters. We serve affected community members, first responders, and emergency room personnel. We also provide education to the community and first responders about the effects of traumatic stress and treatment with EMDR or early intervention protocols. VCRN is a 501(c)(3) organization. Services are provided free of charge.

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REFERRALS AND DEPLOYMENTS

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We receive referrals from entities such as schools, churches, local and state government, mental health and health care professionals, first responders, and other community organizations.

The decision to deploy clinicians to events may be based on the number of people impacted, injuries or casualties, disruption of normal life activities, and when events overwhelm the normal coping behaviors for people involved.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

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Our clinicians provide EMDR early intervention protocols. EMDR is an evidence-based psychotherapy that targets traumatic experiences, current triggers, and future challenges. This intervention may alleviate presenting symptoms, decrease distress around disturbing memories, improve one’s view of self, and offer relief from bodily disturbance, with a goal of returning clients to pre-incident functioning.