The Family Trauma Center

Surviving Trauma
Shock. Suffering. Distress. Pain.
No matter how you put it, being involved in a serious accident is a life-altering experience. You, your family, all those affected by a sudden tragedy may find daily life much more difficult than before the accident. Fortunately, there is help. And the first steps to comforting yourself and your loved ones involve understanding the symptoms from a traumatic event, managing these symptoms, and ultimately recovering from them.

1. How do traumatic experiences affect people?
2. What do trauma survivors need to know?
3. How can Family Recovery Group help me and my family?
4. Meet Chaplain Smalley, Our Trauma Specialist

1. How do traumatic experiences affect people?

Families who experience trauma such as a major car accident often experience strong emotional reactions afterwards, also known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is recognized by medical and mental health professionals. Many people with PTSD repeatedly re-experience the ordeal in the form of flashback episodes, memories, nightmares, or frightening thoughts, especially when they are exposed to events or objects that remind the survivor of the trauma. Anniversaries of the event can trigger symptoms while those with PTSD also experience emotional numbness, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. Feelings of intense guilt are also common. Most people with PTSD try to avoid any reminders or thoughts of the ordeal. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than 1 month.

The seriousness of PTSD depends on many things, including the following:

To learn more about symptoms of PTSD, click here.

2. What do trauma survivors need to know?

3. How can Family Recovery Group help me and my family?

Family Recovery Group understands the need for you and your loved ones to effectively recover from your injuries, whether physical, emotional, or both. You want life to return to the way it was before the accident. That’s why we have trauma specialists on staff who can assist you and your family through these troubling times. So take the time to browse through our services. Let Family Recovery Group help you and your family get back on track.

Trauma Assessment Check – tests with results reviewed by our Licensed Family Therapist.

Make an Appointment –talk with Chaplain Bob Smalley, Trauma Specialist.

Local Trauma Therapists – find a professional therapist nearest you.

4. Meet Chaplain Smalley, Our Trauma Specialist

Bob Smalley currently serves as Chaplain for the FBI, the Los Angeles Fire Department, and the American Red Cross. He has been involved in combined responses to several of the world’s most traumatic events, including the explosion of U.S. Air Flight 800, the Alaska Airlines crash, and the Singapore Air disasters.

As part of the FBI's Western Regional Critical Incident Response Team, he participated in the stress management debriefings at the Pentagon following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and in Littleton, Colorado following the shootings at Columbine High School. He was also involved in the debriefing process following the L.A. riots, the Northridge earthquake, and the recent American missionary kidnapping incident in the Philippines.

Chaplain Smalley holds a Masters Degree in Christian Apologetics from BIOLA University. He has lectured on stress management in both the U.S. and abroad.

Bob is married and has four daughters and six grandchildren.

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