Atlanta-Based Therapists Reflect On Deadly Spa Shootings, Coping Tips, Ongoing Health Crisis
An official walks into Aromatherapy Spa in Atlanta after a shooting there late Tuesday. Shootings at two massage spas in Atlanta and one in the suburbs left multiple people dead. On Thursday’s “Closer Look,” two Atlanta-based licensed therapists discuss the impact felt by many after hearing the news of the shootings.
An Atlanta-based licensed therapist describes the recent deadly massage spa shootings that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent, as heart-wrenching.
“Once again, people in general, women specifically — sadly to say, Asian Americans — have been singled out. This has been an extraordinary year for hate, violence, death and loss,” said Jo Vivian, who specializes in trauma-informed therapy.
On Thursday’s edition of “Closer Look,” Vivian said the shooting spree points to something greater that people in the U.S. need to heal through reconciliation.
“There is a need for education,” Vivian said. “It’s the ignorance of people, I do believe, that leads to such acts that are horrendous, that create great scars in our country.”
Kate Ferguson, a licensed clinical therapist and the owner of Kate Ferguson & Associates, who was also a guest on the radio show, echoed Vivian’s words.
“As a clinician, when I saw the news, I knew that clients were going to experience it as another blow, another trauma, another wound,” explained Ferguson. “People are tired, you know, and they want to know what to do and if things can get better.”
During the virtual conversation, both Ferguson and Vivian talked with show host Rose Scott about the importance of cultural competency and the impact that listening and reaching out to people who are hurting can make.
The guests also talked about how the ongoing health crisis has affected women’s mental health — causing an increase in depression, anxiety, suicide and substance abuse.
The therapists also discussed coping tips and talked about the importance of seeking professional help in a crisis.
“Listen to the rhythm of your life and your body, and pay attention to what it is telling you,” Vivian said.
To listen to the full conversation, click the audio player above.
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