Mental wellness professionals offer help to a grieving community 

In the aftermath of the Palisades, Franklin, Broad, and Woolsey fires, the visible damage is easy to measure —destroyed homes, displaced neighbors, long insurance battles, and businesses struggling to keep afloat. The emotional toll is harder to see, and often slower to surface.

For many disaster victims — and Malibu has many — the weeks and months following a disaster can bring a wave of delayed reactions. Adrenaline fades. Routines attempt to return, but stress can linger, even for those indirectly affected.

After experiencing a traumatic event, it can be normal to struggle with sleep, feel irritable, notice mood swings, have difficulty concentrating, or experience anxiety, and overwhelming sadness. For some, symptoms of post-traumatic stress may also emerge.

As the one-year anniversary of the fires was marked, those emotions may have resurfaced or intensified. Ongoing displacement, prolonged uncertainty, and feelings of hopelessness may continue to disrupt daily routines and overall functioning. Healing is not linear, and for many in the community, the impact of the fire is still unfolding.

It’s not a weakness to seek help and the Boys & Girls Club of Malibu (BGCM) wants the community to know it is here — and it is here for the long haul.

In an interview with BGCM’s Mayra Herrera, director of wellness and long-term community recovery services, and Alexis Jordan, director of wellness education and services, both emphasized that recovery is not a one-year process. For many Malibu residents — whether their homes burned or not — the emotional impact continues to unravel in different ways and on different timelines.

The Club’s mental health services were established well before the fires, but demand increased significantly afterward. Immediately following the disaster, the organization opened a disaster relief center offering supplies and on-site crisis counseling. That early intervention connected many survivors directly to longer-term mental health support. Since then, requests for services have continued.

Herrera noted, “Our disaster recovery services offers care coordination, which is a holistic approach to disaster case management. We’re connecting people to resources, including financial assistance, housing, meeting their recovery goals. This includes connecting them to our mental health resources.” Some people sought help right away. Others are only now recognizing that they need additional support and it’s not too late.

A key component of the club’s response is its long-term community recovery program. Mental health services are woven into that support system. Residents impacted by recent fires can be referred directly to counseling, whether they remain in Malibu or have relocated elsewhere. Telehealth options ensure that displaced residents — even those living outside Malibu — can still access services.

Jordan said it is important for the public to understand that mental health care is available for all ages. While many people associate the Boys & Girls Club primarily with youth programming, its wellness services extend far beyond children. The club works with clients as young as kindergarten age and continues serving adults and seniors.

Both leaders stressed that everyone processes disaster differently. Some individuals experience trauma symptoms; others are navigating prolonged grief. The distinction matters. The club has hosted educational sessions, including one led by a specialist from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to help survivors better understand the difference between trauma and grief.

Jordan explained that trauma may stem from direct life-threatening experiences — such as actively fleeing the fire or feeling in immediate danger. Grief, however, often reflects the deep sense of loss that follows the destruction of a home, a neighborhood or a sense of security. While the two can overlap, they may require different therapeutic approaches. For those experiencing persistent sadness, difficulty functioning, sleep disruption, heightened anxiety or emotional numbness, speaking with a professional can help clarify what is happening and what type of treatment would be most beneficial.

As for access, all services are provided at no cost to individuals and families. Residents can complete an intake form — available in both English and Spanish — through bgcmalibu.org under “Request Support Services.” After submission, the club aims to respond within a week. The clinical supervisor reviews each intake, conducts an initial assessment andmatches clients with an appropriate clinician as quickly as possible. If needed, referrals to outside providers are also offered. “If someone feels that they are dealing with persistent grief, it is great to speak to a professional about that.” Confidentiality is strictly maintained.

For those in immediate crisis, Herrera and Jordan emphasized that support is available beyond the club as well. Anyone experiencing urgent emotional distress can call or text 988 to reach the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which operates 24 hours a day across the United States. 

The organization’s reach has been significant. Approximately 2,500 individuals have come through the Long Term Community Recovery program since the fire. Yet the need continues, and the Club continues to accept new clients for both care coordination and wellness services.

Herrera described recovery as layered. Some families first seek financial or housing support and later turn to counseling. Others begin with therapy and then move toward practical recovery assistance. The club’s trauma-informed, whole-person-centered approach allows flexibility, meeting each individual where they are.

The Boys & Girls Club is also embedded in the community’s four public schools, further expanding access for children and families who may need support during the school day.

More than a year later, there has been no slowdown in requests for help. If anything, the steady pace reflects a growing understanding that emotional recovery does not follow a fixed schedule.

For Malibu residents still feeling unsettled, overwhelmed, or simply in need of guidance, the message is clear: support remains available and it is local.

Recovery, as both leaders emphasized, is long-term. And BGCM intends to walk alongside the community for as long as it takes.