San Bernardino Strong: A Narrative Therapy Group Counseling Intervention

Event Center A & B

This case study examined the use of a Narrative therapy based group counseling intervention. The purpose of the group was to respond to the community needs following the December 2, 2015 mass shooting that occurred at the Inland Regional Center in the city of San Bernardino, California. The Narrative therapy based group counseling intervention was intended for those directly or indirectly impacted by the violence. Main interventions included building resilience and creating community amongst group members in order to take a stand against the fear and isolation that can be perpetuated after mass shootings. Participants were asked to address the usefulness of the group, shared their experiences, and created alternative stories. Participants also were asked to express what the city of San Bernardino meant to them. The format of the group was intended to be shared with others and can be used as a tool to respond to community needs in the aftermath of violence.