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September 17, 2001

橙子视频's Marriage and Family Therapy program to offer service to families affected by terrorism

The University of Louisiana at Monroe's Marriage and Family Therapy Program has services available and are ready to serve the needs of the community after the terrorists attacks on our country last Tuesday.

"The 橙子视频 Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic is open to the public for a minimal fee," said the Director of Clinical Training, Lamar Woodham, Ed.D. The clinic is staffed by interns in the Marriage and Family program who are earning their masters or doctorate degrees. Anyone on campus or in the community who seeks counseling is welcome to make an appointment.

Marriage and Family Therapy is also holding a meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at noon in the MFT house at 3404 Bon Aire for their faculty and students.

It's a brown bag luncheon on developing a MFT Crisis Response Team to serve the community. Dr. Laurie Charles, their newest faculty, will be offering her thoughts and help for the meeting.
Professor Woodham said to his students, "The families of our communities will continue to feel a wide range of emotions related to these events for a long time. The pain, grief, anger, frustration, anxiety, depression and many other feelings will be very real influence in the lives of our present and future clients. We must be ready to "step up to the plate" as serve as the professionals that we are."

In addition to the clinic and the MFT Crisis Response Team there is also a website available. "Unlike natural disasters these acts of terrorism know no geographic boundaries," said Dr. James Morris, President of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). "The feeling of anger, fear, and grief, will reverberate for many weeks to come. Hardly any family in North America will be untouched, and it will be critical to care for the emotional needs of the citizens as well as their physical needs."

The AAMFT has over 15,000 members standing by to assist families throughout the country who are stressed and traumatized by the recent terrorist attacks. Many are working in conjunction with the American Red Cross under a partnership between the two organizations. The AAMFT has set up a special website, www.TherapistLocator.net , with consumer oriented material about loss and bereavement, and post-traumatic stress. At TherapistLocator.net, consumers who wish to speak directly with a therapist can search by city or zip code to find a qualified therapist in their area.

Marriage and family therapist are trained to work with individuals and families who have suffered loss or who have been traumatized. "Trauma really is a family problem", Dr. Morris said. "It manifests in many ways, and can have devastating consequences for individuals and their families. Likewise, the family can be a powerful, healing support for its members."

For more information: contact Lamar Woodham at 342-3005.

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