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Contributed
Trauma Support Provided for North Carolina Students
In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation in western North Carolina, students and staff in Adventist schools have faced the challenging journey of recovery. Recognizing that emotional healing is as essential as physical recovery, a trauma support initiative led by Counseltation, in partnership with Andrews University and La Sierra University, is providing crucial care to students in affected areas.
This initiative, designed as a Virtual Mission Trip, involves 22 undergraduate and graduate students from Andrews University in fields such as social work, theology, speech pathology, and trauma response. Joining them are La Sierra University students, who are developing social/emotional resources and counseling strategies tailored to young people dealing with trauma. Together, they are creating a foundation of support that reaches deeply into impacted communities.
Under the leadership of Dustin Young, D.S.W., assistant professor of social work and director of strategic initiatives at the International Center for Trauma Education and Care, and Harvey Burnette, Ph.D., professor of psychology, the program emphasizes trauma- informed care rooted in faith and practical coping skills. Collaborators include Jose Bourget, pastor; Teela Ruehle, director of missions; and Mindy Salyers, licensed school counselor and director of Counseltation Services. Together, they ensure that these efforts are compassionate, impactful, and well-prepared.
Student volunteers received training in trauma counseling and processing techniques on October 23, 2024. Using the story of Jesus calming the storm, from Mark 4, counselors encouraged students to reflect on their experiences of fear, loss, and resilience. By connecting their trauma to sensory experiences — what they saw, heard, felt, and even smelled — students could process stress through God-centered coping strategies.
The program operates on a tiered intervention system:
• Tier I: General trauma processing for all students who lived through the storm, helping them process sensory experiences, and understand their body’s responses.
• Tier II: Focused support for those who experienced particularly distressing events or connections to significant harm.
• Tier III: Acute processing and individual sessions for students who faced severe losses, connecting them to future care resources.
Thus far, 685 students and 24 staff members from schools, including Silver Creek Adventist School in Morganton, Fletcher Academy, Mount Pisgah Academy, Captain Gilmer Christian School, and Asheville-Pisgah Christian School, have participated in group trauma processing sessions. These sessions foster resilience through guided emotional processing and social/emotional skill-building. School-based administrators have also received training to continue supporting students after the sessions.
La Sierra University’s contributions include developing virtual support materials and integrating tools like Nearpod to create continuity in social/emotional learning. Their efforts ensure educators have resources to sustain support in the months ahead.
School leaders have expressed deep gratitude for these efforts:
“Thank you for a heart that reached out to help. Your extended hand was truly a blessing in so many ways,” said Sarah Wilson, Ed.D., principal of Captain Gilmer Christian School.
“We appreciate the help and resources provided for our students,” said Lindsay Seafong, principal of Silver Creek Adventist School.
As recovery continues, the partnership between Andrews University, La Sierra University, and Counseltation highlights the power of community and collaboration. Their mission not only provides immediate emotional relief, but also establishes a foundation for resilience and spiritual growth that will benefit these schools and their communities for years to come.
To all those involved, thank you for answering the call to serve and heal.
Carolina | February 2025

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