ICTG - Getting Leaders Restorative Strategies to Grow after Loss
  • About
    • Who We Are >
      • Board of Directors
      • Board of Advisors
      • Staff
    • What We Do >
      • Mission, Vision, and Values
      • Services
      • Press Room
      • FAQs
    • Contact
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Offline
    • Paid Services
    • Other Ways to Give >
      • Legacy Gifts
      • Donate Stock
      • Donor-Advised Funds
      • Shop and Give
  • Phases of Disaster Response
  • Congregational
    • Downloadable Guidelines
    • Learning Banks >
      • Articles
      • Denominational Resources >
        • Denominational Relief Organizations
        • Disaster Preparedness for Houses of Worship
        • Denominational Research
      • Research >
        • Surveys >
          • Congregational Trauma Survey
          • Congregational Growth After Trauma Survey
          • Children & Youth Ministry after Trauma Survey
      • Resources by Ministry Type >
        • Faith-based Nonprofit Ministries
        • Spiritual Formation
        • Youth Ministry
        • Campus Ministry
      • Resources by Trauma >
        • Abuse
        • Natural Disaster
        • Violence
      • Seminars, Shorts & Podcasts >
        • Trauma Terms
        • Response – In Congregations
      • Infographics & Charts
      • Tools for Worship & Ministry
    • Organizational Care Plan >
      • Coaching
    • Training >
      • Webinars >
        • Past Recordings
      • Purchase Training
      • Access Paid Training
      • Internships
  • Community
    • Learning Banks >
      • Articles
      • Infographics & Charts
      • Resources by Trauma >
        • Abuse
        • Natural Disaster
        • Violence
      • Seminars, Shorts & Podcasts >
        • Trauma Terms
        • Response – In Community
    • Organizational Care Plan >
      • Coaching
    • Riviera Care Center
  • Blogs
    • ICTG Blog
    • Spiritual Direction Blog

In this Season

12/4/2018

0 Comments


​T​his post was originally shared on October 12th 2018, and has been updated.

As the crisp December winds usher us into Winter in Santa Barbara, it is hard to believe that it has already been one year since the Thomas Fires began, and that the first anniversary of the 1/9 debris flow is rapidly approaching.  

In some ways these months have seemed to fly by and in other ways, time has stood still. While some of the mud and debris has been cleared on properties, many in town are still feeling ‘stuck in the mud’ emotionally speaking. In this season, the conflicting realities brought about by disaster cause us to feel as if we are taking two steps forward and three steps back at times.
Picture
The summer provided a welcome break from concerns about the rain, but as the probability of precipitation rises in Santa Barbara County, so can the levels of stress. Many of the individuals, congregations and organizations we have been supporting through the Riviera Care Center Project are amid preparing for the possibility of another evacuation season.

Some of the folks we listen to have asked why overwhelming emotions are just now starting to surface. Others have said that they feel as if their reactions are a bit delayed and wonder why the grief is now starting to set in. To those who feel that way my response is “actually, you are right on time with your reactions”. We all experience the effects of stress and trauma differently. Our bodies, hearts and minds bring things to the surface in their own time… and as there is an opportune season in our personal lives to tune in to our emotions.


The phases of disaster that a community may go through often sees a collective stage of disillusionment leading up to the anniversary. This stage can include feelings of fatigue, exhaustion, and sadness. As the intensity of the first response, or “hero” phase, wanes, it is common for people in the community to feel tired and experience a significant dip in energy levels. The feelings that surface around this time are normal, healthy and necessary in the work of restoration. September brought the closing of the Montecito Center and with it a heightened collective awareness of the ongoing needs of our community. In response to these needs, ICTG continues to co-lead the Community Wellness Team and ensure collaborative efforts in providing for the mental, emotional and spiritual health of Santa Barbara County residents.
 
This season has marked an increased need for therapeutic services to individuals and groups. It has also marked an increase in requests for us to provide disaster and preparedness education, group processing and coaching, and facilitation of gatherings for collective healing. We remain committed to supporting our community with these services through the Riviera Care Center Project and the South SBC All Right? campaign.

Thank you for your continued support to our local efforts to provide care and restorative strategies to survivors, organizations, churches and business in Santa Barbara County. We are passionate about our mission and grateful for your generosity – it continues to make a tremendous difference, especially in this season! 

Gratefully, 
Marvel Hitson

Director of Congregational Health & Trauma Chaplain     

Picture
Marvel Hitson serves as ICTG's Director of Congregational Health & Trauma Chaplain.

Marvel has been based
 out of the Montecito Center alongside the HOPE 805 Team & other community partners supporting Santa Barbara County in the aftermath of the Thomas Fire and Debris Flows. She is currently working towards long term recovery through Riviera Care Center Project in collaboration with the Community Wellness Team.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    ICTG Blog

    Exploring the changing landscape of long-term community and congregational care.

    SUPPORT

    Archives

    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    ACEs
    Aftermath Series
    AHyun Lee
    Anabaptist
    Anger
    Art
    Arthur Gross-Schaeffer
    Baptist
    Books
    Burnout
    California
    Calming
    Carly Jane Lee
    Carolyn Browning Helsel
    Catholic
    Children And Youth
    Christian
    College Ministry
    Communication
    Compassion Fatigue
    Congregations
    Cynthia Eriksson
    Danjuma Gibson
    Darryl Stephens
    David A. Holyan
    Dawrell Rich
    Debris Flow
    Depression
    Dia De Muertos
    Divorce
    Doug Ranck
    Education
    Emotional Spiritual Psychological Care
    Episcopal
    Erin Jantz
    Event
    Faith Leaders
    Fire
    Flooding
    Forgiveness
    Free Methodist
    Gloria Beard
    Gordon Hess
    Gregory Ellison
    Grief
    Harvey Howell
    Healing
    Ictg Advisors
    ICTG Board Of Directors
    ICTG Program Directors
    Iyabo Onipede
    Janet S. Peterman
    Jeff Putthoff
    Jesuit
    Jewish
    John Tucker
    Jonathan Leonard
    Joseph Kim Paxton
    Kate Wiebe
    Laura Bratton
    Libby Baker
    Lutheran
    Margaret Manning Shull
    Marvel Hitson
    Maureen Farrell Garcia
    Meet The Board
    Melissa M Bonnichsen
    Mental Health
    Military
    Miscarriage
    National Tool
    National VOAD
    Natural Disasters
    Non Denominational
    Phases Of Disaster
    Philip B Helsel
    Presbyterian
    Press Releases
    Preventative Pastoral Care
    Protestant
    PTSD
    Quaker
    Racism
    Red Cross
    Reformed
    Relaxation
    Rev. Jessica Bratt Carle
    Ritual
    Riviera Care Center
    Routine
    Roy Yanke
    Ruth T West
    Self Care
    Sermons
    Sexual Abuse
    Shaun Lee
    Sophia Park
    Spiritual Direction
    SSJE
    Stories
    Suicide
    Surveys
    Suzanne Cooley
    Teresa Blythe
    Theologians
    Tools
    Training
    Trauma Informed Care
    Trauma Response
    Uncovering
    United Church Of Christ
    United Methodist
    US - Mexico Border
    Vicarious Trauma
    Violence
    Worship
    Youth Ministry

    Tweets by @ictgorg

    RSS Feed

Picture
ICTG is a 501c3 nonprofit. 
P. O. Box 3498
Santa Barbara, CA 93130
office@ictg.org

ICTG is a proud member of:
Read our reviews:
Picture
Picture