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Too Old for Stranger Danger?
Keeping Kids Safe From Abductions
By Lisa Marie Metzler
I was channel surfing when I heard the news bulletin about Elizabeth Smart. Thank God she was found alive! I was astonished and joyful for the entire Smart family, but I couldn't help wonder what Elizabeth was going through behind all the smiles I saw on the news reports.
In any situation where a teen has experienced a traumatic event, counseling should be a top priority for the teen and the entire family unit.
"There are 'forbidden' conversations that have to take place, and the earlier the better," says Gail Gross, Ed.D.. These forbidden questions are asked early on in a safe environment for the teen.
Many times parents would rather not know the answers to these "forbidden" questions. Parents may not want to face what the teen had to do to survive, but the teen will need to talk about it. Their perspective on the ordeal may be entirely different than the parent imagined.
Counseling for the siblings and especially the parents will be essential to the healing process. "Parents need to deal with their own grief and trauma, so they don't accidentally give that to their children," says Gross.
Through counseling and the support of friends, extended family and clergy, parents can get in touch with what they are feeling and address their concerns in the confines of trusted individuals. Parents should resume their life as they did before the traumatic experience. Stability will bring comfort and security to the teen.
