Healing a Community: Lessons for Recovery After Large-Scale Trauma

More than 300 U.S. school shootings have occurred since the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre devastated the small community of Newton, CT, in 2012. Appointed to guide a recovery and resiliency team tasked with coordinating strategies to deal with the mental, psychological, and social impact of the trauma, Glaser (former behavioral health director, Catholic Charities) brings compassion and skill to the field of therapeutic recovery and the politics of funding and grant administration in this insightful and pragmatic look at healing individuals and communities after a massive tragedy. Notable lessons include the importance of clarifying roles even among experts, monitoring expectations among agencies as well as the dynamic needs of families and individuals impacted by trauma long after the initial event, while ensuring that civic leaders are part of the dialog of healing. Glaser briefly outlines therapies and programs that can be individualized to meet an array of needs and stages of healing; however, this is by no means an in-depth study of the psychology or treatment of trauma.