Kristina de Bree, Santa Clarita therapist, MA, LMFT and Valencia EMDR therapist, discusses how high school students and recent graduates may be dealing with delayed-onset symptoms from the Saugus High shooting.

Between the Saugus High School shooting, pandemic, financial crisis and recent protests, kids throughout the Santa Clarita Valley have been subject to multiple stressful events over the last seven months. Kristina de Bree, MA, LMFT and Valencia EMDR therapist, recently described some behavioral signs that may point to lingering trauma.

“When we experience things, it does take three to six months to consolidate memory,” de Bree explained. “That’s really important, especially when we’re talking about trauma, because that’s when you can get the delayed onset of symptoms.”

Related: Santa Clarita Therapist Discusses Limitations Of Talk Therapy, Benefits Of EMDR Therapy

The Santa Clarita therapist pointed out that, with seven months having passed from the Saugus High shooting, “some people are just a month into that memory as being consolidated.” As a result, those “delayed symptoms” may be coming to the surface for teens throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

For parents worried that their child might be experiencing symptoms of trauma, de Bree explained that her practice qualifies mental health symptoms as “yellow flag” events and “red flag” events.

“Yellow flags,” de Bree said, are symptoms which don’t necessarily indicate a person needs to immediately see a therapist or trauma specialist. However, “if you see a lot of these (‘yellow flags’) over a period of time that’s 14 days or more, this would be a red flag.”

These “yellow flag” symptoms include:

• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Frequent nightmares
• Change in appetite; either a loss of appetite or a gain in appetite
• Extreme weight gain or weight loss
• Loss of interest in, or avoidance of hobbies and activities
• Avoidance of family or friends
• Persistent feelings of loneliness, fatigue or sadness
• Loss of pleasure or satisfaction in life

“Red flag” events are indicators that a person may be in crisis, with de Bree urging those experiencing these symptoms to “get help immediately.” These symptoms include:

• Joking about wanting to commit suicide or homicide
• Talking about wanting to die
• Any kind of self-harm, such as cutting
• Underage drug or alcohol use
• Excessive use of drugs or alcohol at any age
• Five or more “yellow flag” symptoms persisting 14 days or more

The Santa Clarita therapist recommended that parents pay careful attention to their teens’ behavior over time, as current events present ongoing challenges that may continually provoke stress responses.

“The other challenge of where we are right now is, everything else that’s happened since the Saugus shooting,” said de Bree. “George Floyd, coronavirus, political unrest, riots — our safety has been threatened.”

The cumulative effect of multiple traumatic experiences presenting one after the other can lead to “unprocessed trauma and complex trauma,” where “you’re constantly releasing stress hormones in your body,” de Bree said.

“So you have cortisol running through your body and you’re going to start having problems,” explained de Bree. Between mental health symptoms and physical manifestations of stress, such as migraines, chest pain and stomach aches, the Santa Clarita therapist noted that “there are endless ways that (trauma) can manifest.”

de Bree suggested parents check in regularly with their kids, using a zero-to-ten scale to judge how they’re doing emotionally.

“Have an open conversation with your kids and ask them (about their feelings) on a regular basis. It’s okay if they have an eight or nine moment, but if they’re just chronically at that place, that’s a problem,” said de Bree.

The Santa Clarita therapist explained that those who are regularly below a “four” on this scale are generally doing well. “If you’re between a four and a six (over a long period of time), that’s when you really need to start thinking about getting help,” said de Bree.

“If you’re above a six (for a prolonged period), you absolutely need to get help immediately … because that can really go to a place of crisis very easily,” she said.

In emergency situations, where there is concern a person may be a threat to themselves or others, parents are advised to call 911. Those seeking non-emergency therapeutic care can contact Kristina de Bree for a free consultation via her website or by calling (661) 513-4857.

Anyone seeking information about mental health resources available in the Santa Clarita Valley can click here for a list of resources. There are 24-hour phone numbers available. In the event of an emergency, 911 should always be the first call. Those looking to speak with someone can call:

• • 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • 1-800-854-7771 for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
  • 1-800-784-2433 for the Treatment Advocacy Center
  • 661-259-9439 for the SCV Child & Family Center
  • 661-513-4857 for Kristina de Bree, licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT)
  • 661-296-4444 for The Way Out Recovery SCV 
  • 661-288-4800 for the Santa Clarita Valley Mental Health Center
  • 661-257-9688 for the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project
  • 661-803-1641 for Straightening Reins, equine therapy

Ed. Note: This article is a KHTS Community Spotlight based on a recent radio interview with Kristina de Bree, MA, LMFT and Valencia EMDR therapist in Santa Clarita.

Santa Clarita therapist Kristina de Bree is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who specializes in trauma and grief. As an LMFT in Santa Clarita, de Bree’s mission is to enable those enduring trauma to heal and develop strength and resilience for facing their pain and experiences, shed the shame, and improve their overall quality of life. In addition to being a Santa Clarita LMFT, de Bree is a EMDRIA Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. Those looking for the best therapist in Santa Clarita or a “therapist near me” can contact de Bree today. 

Kristina de Bree, MA, LMFT, Valencia EMDR Therapist

25000 Avenue Stanford
Valencia, CA 91355

(661) 513-4857

Kristina de Bree, MA, LMFT, Valencia EMDR Therapist

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvTH8MAHs10

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