LUBBOCK, Texas, Feb. 27, 2012 /
Christian Newswire/ -- Dr. Beth Robinson is a licensed professional counselor who maintains a private practice working with abused and traumatized children and is the Graduate Director of Behavioral Sciences at Lubbock Christian University. Dr. Robinson submits the following and is available for comment:
"For the students, parents, faculty, and community of Chardon High School, today will begin a long process of healing. Parents and teachers will need to model ways to handle the crisis through their ability to effectively manage their own emotions at this critical time.
"The shooting this morning at Chardon High School reminds all of us how tragedy can change our lives in just a few moments. Parents need to pay attention to meeting the emotional needs of their children following the shooting and related events.
"The most important thing for parents to do following a panic-inducing event such as this, is to remain calm and control their own emotions. Parents will need to step back, temper the panic that is sure to rise and model ways to handle the crisis through their ability to manage their own emotions. Teenagers will take their emotional cues from their parents and peers. Parents need to avoid appearing anxious or frightened.
"We need to pay close attention to how our teens are reacting to the situation. Some signs that a teen is struggling to deal with the shooting may include changes in sleep patterns, activity patterns, and eating patterns. If these changes persist beyond a week or two, parents may want to discuss their child's reaction with a professional counselor.
"Children don't need a lot of 'things' right now. What they need are parents that will be physically present and emotionally available to them. Young people are incredibly resilient and if this trauma is dealt with quickly and effectively, it helps eliminate the possibility that there will be trauma that manifests down the road in their adult years."
