Through the Storm: How a Master’s Degree Program in Marriage and Family Therapy Came to New Understandings After Surviving Both a Natural and a Human Disaster Within 6 Months

Abstract

As faculty and students in a master’s degree in marital and family therapy program in Florida (in the United States), we found ourselves unexpectedly enveloped by two external emergency events in one academic year. In September of 2017, our area was hit by a category 5 hurricane. Six months later, in February of 2018, a tragic school shooting took place near our campus. In both crisis situations, faculty and students were affected themselves, both directly and indirectly, and yet also challenged to respond as helping professionals to other survivors. Our understandings of ourselves and our community were altered, and our commitment to relational healing increased. For many of us, our commitment to political advocacy increased as well. This article discusses the changes to our learning community brought about by the cumulative impact of both events.