
The wildfires that have swept through the Los Angeles area have left behind devastation—neighborhoods reduced to smoldering ruins, homes turned to ash, and lives forever changed. The destruction isn’t just physical—it’s the emotional wounds left by the destruction of what was once home.
The fire didn’t just burn structures; it burned away a sense of safety, routine, and belonging. The lingering smoke in the air serves as a constant reminder of what’s been lost and what remains uncertain.
As an EAP therapist working in both a hospital and private practice, I have supported individuals and teams through a range of crises, but the unique emotional toll of natural disasters like these creates a profound sense of collective trauma.
Wildfires disrupt more than our physical environment—they disrupt our emotional balance, our sense of safety, and our identity.
It’s in these moments of uncertainty and loss that the healing process can begin, not through avoidance, but through the discomfort and learning to move through it with mindfulness, compassion, and connection.
In my years of experience, I have learned that grief is a powerful and tremendously transformative force.
Though it often feels overwhelming, it doesn’t need to be faced alone.
Acknowledging grief, finding meaning in loss, connecting with others, and practicing self-compassion are key strategies for navigating trauma and building strength in the aftermath.
Acknowledge the Emotions
The emotional aftermath of the wildfires can be experienced as a flood of grief, fear, and uncertainty.
The rush of evacuations, the helplessness of seeing loved ones displaced, and the sorrow of watching a community go up in flames—these feelings are all valid. However, too often, I see people try to avoid or suppress these emotions.
There is a cultural narrative that suggests strength means “bouncing back quickly” or “getting over it,” but this view can prolong emotional suffering. From a trauma-informed perspective, grief is not something to rush through.
As a therapist, I encourage individuals to embrace their emotions fully. Grief must be felt to be healed. It is through acknowledging sadness, fear, anger, and even confusion that we allow ourselves to move toward healing. When we resist, we only prolong the pain.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and learning the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) techniques are incredibly effective for this process.
Taking the time to stop and simply check in with what we are feeling—without trying to change it—is the first step in processing grief.
One of the core practices of MBSR is body awareness—pausing and noticing how emotions manifest physically in the body. Similarly, CRM encourages us to observe and gently regulate the body’s natural responses to trauma, building a foundation for emotional resilience. This simple practice of tuning in helps create the emotional space needed for grief to be acknowledged and begin its natural process of healing.
Finding Meaning in the Midst of Pain
When the world as we know it is turned upside down, it can seem impossible to find any meaning in the devastation. However, through my experience with trauma and loss, I have seen how adversity often leads to profound growth. This is not about rationalizing the pain, but about finding new ways to grow and adapt, even in the face of hardship.
In my work, I’ve seen that loss often leads to reflection on what truly matters in our lives. It is in the aftermath of crisis that many individuals reconnect with their core values, rediscovering the importance of relationships, community, and shared purpose.
Healing comes not from erasing the pain but from transforming it into an opportunity for renewal.
This is where the practice of mindfulness shines.
Mindfulness invites us to be present with our grief without needing to fix or judge it. By turning inward, we begin to process the emotional impact of the loss, and through this process, we often uncover new meaning—whether it’s deepening relationships, creating new routines, or re-engaging with life in a more authentic way.
Finding meaning also often happens through action. Small, intentional acts—like helping a neighbor, contributing to a community effort, or simply being there for someone else—serve as a powerful reminder that, even in the face of loss, we still have the capacity to act with purpose and compassion. This can help shift our focus from what’s been lost to what can still be offered, creating new channels for healing.
Foster Community and Connection
As a therapist, one of the most important insights I have gained from working with individuals during times of trauma is that healing is rarely done in isolation. The connection between people during times of crisis is an essential part of the recovery process. The more we share our grief with others, the less heavy it feels.
The power of community is profound. When individuals come together—whether in support groups, workplaces, or neighborhoods—they create a collective strength that is greater than the sum of its parts. As much as trauma makes us feel alone, it is through connection that we heal.
In the healthcare setting, where burnout and stress often intersect with crisis, I see the importance of leaders who create spaces for emotional vulnerability and collective healing.
Leaders who acknowledge the trauma their teams are facing and offer support—whether through counseling, flexible schedules, or just being present—can foster a culture of care that extends far beyond individual healing. Collective care, when nurtured by leadership, helps to rebuild communities from the inside out.
Practice Self-Compassion
After a crisis, many individuals feel an unspoken pressure to “get back to normal” quickly. This self-criticism can prevent us from fully processing grief and cause emotional distress that hinders recovery. Self-compassion, a central tenet of mindfulness, is an essential tool for trauma recovery.
In my years of working with trauma survivors, I’ve found that practicing self-compassion—treating ourselves with the same kindness and understanding we would offer a loved one—can be transformative. Healing is not linear, and it’s not something that can be rushed. It’s about giving ourselves the space to feel, rest, and process without shame or guilt.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that we need to be “strong” or “independent” when going through grief. But true strength comes from allowing ourselves to feel vulnerable, acknowledging our pain, and giving ourselves permission to heal at our own pace. Practicing self-compassion can be as simple as offering yourself words of kindness when you feel overwhelmed or taking a break when you need it.
How Leaders Can Support Their Teams
Leaders have the ability to shape the culture of your workplace during times of crisis.
In my work with healthcare teams, I’ve seen firsthand how leaders who show empathy, understanding, and flexibility create environments where teams feel supported in their emotional recovery. Leaders who normalize conversations about grief, acknowledge the collective trauma, and provide time and resources for healing enable their teams to heal together.
Leaders have an opportunity to cultivate self-compassion within their teams by modeling it themselves, creating an environment where emotional well-being is prioritized and supported.
The wildfires have left a trail of destruction, but they have also brought our communities together in ways that remind us of the strength we share. By acknowledging our grief, finding meaning in our loss, fostering community, and practicing self-compassion, we can rebuild not just our homes, but our sense of self and connection to others.
Healing is not about moving on—it’s about moving through, together.
It’s through collective care, compassion, and mindfulness that we will emerge from this crisis stronger, more connected, and more resilient than before.
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