Global Trauma Research, Inc. (GTR) on Sept. 12, 2016 launched a 12-week psychotherapy community support group for Brooklyn, NY residents who have experienced psychological trauma and affects from highly publicized shootings such as that of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile in Baton Rouge, LA and Falcon Heights, the deaths and injury of police officers in Dallas, TX and Kansas City, MO and the mass killing in Orlando, Florida.
“This is a unique approach to address community violence and the mental health of our Brooklyn community members,” says Dr. Florence Saint Jean, executive director of GTR. “Through this program we hope to provide an option for people to truly deal with the aftershock of community violence and heal.”
The goal of this group is to address community depression and / or psychological trauma. Specifically, the group intends to prevent hospitalizations and undiagnosed mental illness, and help participants’ cope by addressing matters such as anger, fear, anxiety, stress, loss, difficulty at home or work, avoidance, numbness, nightmares, or frightening thoughts.
Community violence is an unfortunate reoccurrence in some areas of Brooklyn and many people have nowhere to turn to deal with the aftershock. Through this program, GTR will provide free professional mental health counseling that will help community members heal and share their stories and experiences. In addition to providing psychotherapy, GTR will provide program participants with psychoeducation and skills that will assist with trauma management.
The support groups will be held every other Monday beginning Monday, Sept. 19 at 6 pm. The groups will meet at the GTR Trauma Center at HCC, 3807-38090 Church Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11203.
GTR is a 501c3 organization with the mission to support people around the world affected by psychological trauma. GTR hopes to help people create a secure and maintainable lifestyle by means of education, counseling, support, and integration of spirituality in health practices. GTR believes in developing and implementing comprehensive services, and therefore researches innovative techniques.
