The Shepherd’s Shoulder Stories
The shock. The anguish. The courage it takes to be the one people turn to. The strength it takes to hold it together during a crisis. The support needed to process it all and to heal. These are some of our stories…
The pressure was astronomical to heal the broken-hearted and to fix the wounded. Before the event was even over, our souls and psyches were depleted. We were helpless in a vehemently uncontrolled environment and needed immediate and longer-term help.
2019 Virginia Beach Municipal Center Mass Shooting
The Shepherd’s Shoulder team provided Psychological First Aid, debriefing, mental health support and one-on-one counseling for healthcare providers and first responders. We are honored to serve as a stronghold during an unimaginable event that has sadly become all too commonplace.
On May 31, 2019, the cruelly unthinkable happened in our city. We did not want it to hit home, in our back yard… No one does, but sadly our society is becoming more traumatized. Bullets fly and bombs explode to kill our brothers and sisters. For the first responders of the Virginia Beach Municipal Center shooting, the pressure was astronomical to heal the broken-hearted and to fix the wounded. Before the event was even over, our souls and psyches were depleted. We were helpless in a vehemently uncontrolled environment and needed immediate and longer-term help with the secondary trauma of the attack on our community.
That evening, I was working in the emergency department as the primary spiritual care provider for the victims and families, and even the shooter.
It was chaos.
The staff was busy trying to fix the wounded. The chaplains were with families as they received tempestuous news of paralysis, long-term recovery and other disheartening medical news.
There is so much more… We as a hospital were violently staggering—the physicians, the nurses, the environmental services staff, and so many more. I knew that we needed immediate assistance. I called Chaplain Deb Wacker, a colleague, for help.
Deb’s team came in immediately following the event to hold group sessions with our ED physicians, Emergency Medical Technicians, Environmental Services Staff, nurses, respiratory therapists, surgeons, chaplains and many others. She opened up her schedule to accommodate all shifts, and brought in a team of counselors to accommodate staff on a direct and personal level. Multiple one-on-one sessions were conducted, as well as the group debriefings. There were also diffusing sessions held 72 hours+ later for those that could not make it to initial group sessions.
Chaplain Deb has a genuinely authentic, compassionate and non-judgmental active service of caring presence. To me, she has an extraordinary ability to support people on both spiritual and cognitive levels—to shift their thinking that mass casualty is an abnormal event happening in the lives of normal people, and that we, as clinicians, are helpless to control or fix everything. There is a sense of peace and strength about her that I have not encountered before. Her help was phenomenal! If I had not received her support, group sessions and follow-ups, I would not be as productive and healthy as I am today.
Rev. Chaplain Roger A Gauthier Jr.
Virginia Beach; Administrative Chaplain, Virginia Beach Police
Department; Retired Chaplain, Virginia Beach General Hospital
2022 Chesapeake Walmart Mass Shooting
For the families, victims, first responders and hospital staff of this devastating mass shooting, The Shepherd’s Shoulder was on-site every step of the way. Our spiritual care expertise laid the groundwork for holistic healing – physically, mentally and spiritually – of all involved.
From the moment I was brought to the ER, Chaplains Deb and Kayla were by my side. They stood by me while I was recovering from surgeries and throughout my entire physical rehab. After I was discharged, they were there to support my emotional recovery from the trauma. I am forever grateful.
Workplace Violence Mass Casualty Victim,
Chesapeake, Virginia