VICTIM RECOVERY

by David Nuttle

Victims of terrorist or criminal attacks will need help to recover. The first priority is always medical aid to treat life threatening and other injuries. After that, needed services & holistic trauma treatment should be provided. Also involve any first responders first encountering the victim(s) and also provide for their needs.

Counseling should be provided along with sustaining support for the victim(s). If there are groups of victims, it may help for them to share stories about their attacks. Assist victim(s) in seeking family and friend support as well as all assistance available from their communities.

Teach coping strategies and as appropriate encourage victim(s) to participate in helping law enforcement and courts to capture, prosecute, and punish responsible terrorists/ criminals. Help sustain the healing process!!

If PTSD results from the attack, seek professional help skilled in PTSD treatment using known solutions such as Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and EMDR. By this means victim(s) provide details on their traumatic experience and confront their emotions. At this point they are instructed in coping skills and the means to lower stress over their trauma. Mindfulness drills may also be used to reduce focus on their trauma.