Grounding after crisis: LGBTQ Center of the Desert to offer therapy sessions for residents in bombing aftermath

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A lot of people in Palm Springs my be wondering how to go back to their normal lives after witnessing Saturday's bombing that target an IVF clinic downtown.

If you are having those thoughts, you aren't alone. Most people have never experienced a terror attack in their hometown, so dealing with the effects of such a large scale event like this can be tough for some. Especially those that were nearby the clinic and felt or saw the blast. Several residents have already expressed difficulty moving on from the attack. That's why some local organizations are stepping in to help people heal and move on.

One of those organizations is a non-profit known as the LGBTQ Center of the Desert.

"Most of us has have never experienced an event like this," said Dr. Jill Hingston, the Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Center. "So the shock, the trauma of this happening in our small community has impacted us in a way we might even not realize yet."

Dr. Hinston says asking help can be difficult and intimidating, but ultimately those sessions can help people process trauma and PTSD. That's why the Center is hosting several drop-in group therapy sessions for anyone affected by the Palm Springs fertility center bombing.

"Our goal is to provide a space for our whole community here at the Center, and just remind people how important connection is when these things happen," said Hingston. "A lot of people tend to isolate because they've lost trust, they're scared of the world. And we just want to provide a place where people can come and be together and help process this trauma.”

The center itself is still recovering from the attack, in fact, its building sits across the street from the site of the explosion and sustained damage, including several shattered windows from the force of the blast. Repairs forced the Center to close, temporarily suspending services for two days, but a growing need for mental health resources encouraged the organization to get back to work.

Not everyone may feel like they need mental health support following this attack, but if you do, the Center is offering a safe space for you to get the help you need and heal.

LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER OF THE DESERT

GROUNDING AFTER CRISIS: HEALING IN COMMUNITY

A DROP-IN GROUP THERAPY SPACE

• Wednesday, May 21: 2:00 p.m.
• Friday, May 23: 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 27: 4:00 p.m.
• Thursday, May 29: 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All sessions are at The Center’s Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic, 1301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, second floor, Community Room 7

"When you walk in, you're welcomed," said Hingston. "It's a space where you're probably going to see somebody you know or who looks familiar. You don't have to speak. You can just listen. You can share your experience. I think mostly what we want to do and the value in groups is people sharing how they're coping."

For more information or to learn more about The Center’s behavioral health services, please call 760.416.7790 ext 3

According to a report by News Channel 3's Gavin Nguyen, several local organizations have stepped up in the aftermath of the explosion to address mental health concerns. Research shows generally, experiencing a traumatic event leads to increased rates of acute stress disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use disorder.

The City of Palm Springs also added mental health resources to its engagepalmsprings.com webpage, which has been used to log updates for the Palm Springs attack.

In a statement, the City addressed concerns for mental health help:

"The bomb blast has severely shaken the nerves of Palm Springs residents. This event was horrific for those who were close to the location and saw the results of the explosion, those who felt the shockwaves all across the City and experienced collateral damage to homes or business, and especially for the clients of the American Reproductive Center.

The City is gathering information and contacts for mental health resources that are readily available to our community."

CRISIS TEXT LINE

This organization operates nationwide and is available to the public 24/7, free of charge. It is staffed by trained counselors and their service is offered via texting, but texting the number 741741