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C.W. Post Adjunct Professor Reaches out
to Auto Accident Victims
Personal experience spurs formation of therapy group
April 5, 2000 -- Valerie Gaus was walking across a street
in Midtown Manhattan on an August morning in 1996, when a truck
turned into the crosswalk. By the time the clinical psychologist
saw the vehicle it was too late. The 10,000-pound truck ran over
her legs and head, leaving her lying in the street, unable to
move.
"The only thing that saved my life was my briefcase,"
says Gaus, a practicing psychologist and Adjunct Clinical Supervisor
at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville,
N.Y. "The truck ran over it first, so the impact to my head
was not as great."
Still, Dr. Gaus suffered multiple fractures to her face, including
a broken jaw and crushed eye socket, and severe muscle and tissue
damage to her legs. During her eight-month recuperation, she
began experiencing symptoms of post traumatic stress syndrome.
She looked for help, but found very little. While some private
therapists treat automobile accident victims, she could find
no one who specialized in it. And there were no support or therapy
groups specifically for accident victims.
"A very high percentage of people who have been in motor
vehicle accidents have post traumatic stress disorder or at least
significant symptoms," says Dr. Gaus. She adds that victims
may experience disturbing memories or dreams, a fear of driving,
difficulty getting along with others, diminished interest in
activities, difficulty concentrating, and/or angry outbursts.
"Most of the people who suffer from these symptoms do recuperate
on their own without any treatment in a year. But there's another
set of people who don't get over it. Those are the people who
would benefit from group therapy."
Under the auspices of the C.W. Post Psychological Counseling
Center, Dr. Gaus has launched a 12-week therapy group for automobile
accident victims. A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Gaus
will run the group, assisted by a C.W. Post clinical psychology
doctoral student. She will draw on her extensive experience with
combat victims as well as those who have been traumatized by
institutionalization. Dr. Gaus is accepting applications to the
group and will begin the sessions as soon as the group is full.
While participants will benefit from the support of people
who share their experiences, the focus of the group will be on
solutions. Dr. Gaus will share practical strategies for coping
and overcoming the post-traumatic stress of automobile accidents.
"One of the advantages of a group is that you are getting
support from people who have been through the same thing,"
says Dr. Gaus. "You can feel very isolated, very disconnected
from people. This group will help you reconnect."
For more information about the 12-week therapy group for automobile
accident victims and the C.W. Post Counseling Center, call Valerie
Gaus at (516) 299-3211.
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