Nashville Counselors Assist in Asheville Flood Recovery
Asheville, North Carolina — A dedicated team of eight counselors from Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville recently traveled to Asheville to support families coping with traumatic experiences following severe flooding in September. This group offered their counseling skills to approximately 100 children and their parents over a four-day mission.
Purpose of the Visit
The counselors focused on facilitating group therapy sessions aimed at guiding participants through their trauma, emphasizing resilience, and fostering hope for the future. Counselor Don Logan described the sessions, stating, “We explored their trauma, what they lived through, how resilient they are, and what their view of the future is.” Many people they encountered had been actively volunteering in the community, contributing to recovery efforts.
Self-Care Message
Considering the community’s overwhelming desire to assist others, the counselors addressed an essential aspect of recovery: self-care. Logan noted, “It became a, ‘You’ve helped and that is wonderful, and you’re going to continue to help, but now how can you provide care for yourself?'” This message underscored the importance of processing personal challenges while helping others.
Connection to Previous Trauma
In addition to supporting flood recovery efforts, Daystar Counseling Ministries has also extended its services to families affected by the Covenant School shooting. To provide encouragement to the children in Asheville, students from the school sent handmade cards sharing words of hope and strength. Logan highlighted the impact of these messages: “Many of them came from really the adolescents we serve who have also been through trauma, so to see their response and their resilience and their health kind of boosted us as we took off.”
Messages of Hope
The cards delivered to the children of Asheville contained heartfelt sentiments. One card expressed, “I know what change feels like, but I also know what God’s love feels like.” Another read, “There is something I learned to do when I feel sad. Breathe in through your nose and think about something good.” Such messages aimed to instill hope and promote positive coping strategies amidst adversity.
Long-Term Support
Understanding that the road to healing can be a prolonged journey, the counselors ensured that families would receive ongoing assistance. Logan mentioned that families they engaged with would be connected to a full-time counselor in their community. This connection is vital for helping families navigate the aftermath of the floods and continue their healing journey.
Conclusion
The visit by the Nashville counselors illustrated the profound impact that professional help can have on communities experiencing trauma. As they work to facilitate healing among families in Asheville, the message remains clear: it is essential to care for oneself while supporting others. Through collective effort and shared resilience, hope can prevail over despair.
