Therapists across Texas travel to Hill Country to provide free counseling after deadly flooding

Therapists from San Antonio, Houston, and Kerrville are set up to help anyone in the Hill Country alongside free virtual options

KERRVILLE, Texas — The Texas Hill Country is in the recovery and rebuilding process after last weeks flood but the shock is lingering.

We’ve heard from a lot of people about terrifying moments of survival and heartbreak. 

The K’Star Counseling Center and New Hope counseling center are two businesses in Kerrville offering free services to help anyone impacted by last week’s flooding. 

K’Star counselors will be at the Doyle Community Center Thursday and Friday from 10:30 am – 3 pm.

New Hope counseling is another center providing services tomorrow and Saturday at their office on East Main Street from 10 am-2 pm.

Its program manager Jose Garcia says they starting planning as soon as the flood moved in.

“It’s not anything in regards to a stigma of I shouldn’t be talking about my mental health. You need to be talking about your mental health. That’s especially during a tragedy like this,” said Garcia.

Since Friday, Garcia says he’s noticed an heightened sense of anxiety across the community.

“You’re hearing the helicopters, the sirens, the game wardens driving by, DPS driving by. It’s overwhelming for any individual,” said Garcia. “You have to talk about it because if you bottle in one day, you’re going to have an anxiety attack and it’s going to hit you out of left field, and you’re not going to know how to get through it.”

San Antonio’s Ecumenical Center has been on site for days, and the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative is getting ready to come to Hunt, Kerrville, and Ingram to give free in-person support and counseling.

The Greater Houston Healing Collaborative has a network with more than 120 trained professionals who have helped Texans after Hurricane Harvey, other major floods, natural disasters and even school shootings.

If you can’t make it in person, the Institute of Spirituality and Health out of Houston is offering free virtual sessions.

Their group session “Together After The flood” is on Thursday’s from 6-7 pm.

Their mind and body skills group is on Mondays from 12-1pm.

Their grief support group runs on Tuesday from 11:45 – 1pm.

They also have a mid week meditation class on Wednesday starting at 12pm.

Click here for more details or you can call or text 832-444-4328.

BetterHelp is providing three free months of virtual counseling for anyone impacted.

You can reach them at contact@betterhelp.com.

The 24/7 Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disability Center Hotline can also be reached at 877-466-0660.

Original News Source