Borderland: Best practices for school counselors working with the impact of violence and trauma students
Abstract
Children and adolescents are directly or indirectly exposed to violence on a daily basis. Correlations between pathological issues including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress have been found in children and adolescents exposed to such violence. Most examinations have focused on inner city and urban youth. Yet, persistent and escalating violence along the United States and Mexican border calls for special attention to the ways in which the violence is impacting children and adolescents residing in the border region, as well as those working with those youth. This paper examines the detrimental effects of exposure to violence on youth, highlights the unique characteristics of the border population, and finally offers best practices for school counselors in the border area.