Response to Trauma Resources
The National Institute of Mental Health has provided a helpful article that breaks down the common reactions children and adolescents have after witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Within are tips for parents that explain how to communicate and what to expect as students process what they have witnessed or experienced.
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Traumatic Events
The resource below comes from Syracuse University and discusses how to encourage children and adolescents to open up and process violence that has occurred at school.
How to Encourage Students to Open Up About School Violence
CHOP and Johns Hopkins also have their own tips and guides available about how to not only assist children and adolescents to process what happened, but also how to do so as their parents. Some of these tips regard more intense scenarios, but general violence and exposure are highlighted and the coping methods work the same.
CHOP Provides Tips on Speaking to Your Children About Violent Events
Johns Hopkins Provides Tips on Speaking to Children After Violence
Additional resources are listed below about talking to children and teens when violence happens, along with how to create a supportive environment.
Talking To Teens When Violence Happens
En Español: Hablando Con Los Adolescentes Cuando Sucede La Violencia
Talking to Children When Violence Happens
Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event
Creating a Supportive Environment When Scary Things Happen
Well-Being Reminders in Times of Stress
The following resources are available to individuals who are victims of or have witnessed traumatic events. They provide free counseling sessions to assist in processing what was experienced/witnessed. Their locations, contact information, and websites are listed below for reference.
The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth: 1100 Adams Ave, 1st Floor, Audubon, PA 19403, 610-277-3715
Victim Services of Montgomery County: 325 Swede St #2, Norristown, PA 19401 (Office #: 610-277-0932) (Crisis Hotline: 888-521-0983)
Below are counseling resources that accept a myriad of insurances to provide further support if necessary. Their locations, contact information, and websites are also listed for reference.
Children's Crisis Treatment Center: 502 W Germantown Pike, East Norriton, PA 19403, 610-275-2020
Heather's Hope
Compass Counseling and Associates: 1259 Souderton Road, Perkasie, PA 18944, 215-260-3748
Brightside Counseling: 681 Harleysville Pike, 2nd Floor, Harleysville, PA 19438, 215-264-2272
Springfield Psychological: 1120 Welsh Road, Suite 120, North Wales, PA 19454, 610-544-2110
Never Journey Alone LLC: 2303 N. Broad Street #4, Colmar, PA 18915, 267-642-1470
Blossom Counseling and Wellness: 555 2nd Avenue, Building B, 3rd Floor, Collegeville, PA 19426, 484-938-8461
Ambler Counseling Center: 1018 N. Bethlehem Pike, Ambler, PA 19002, 267-664-0734