Workshop relieved counselor's stress

BOARDMAN -- A counselor who assisted about 15 people Monday during a free public workshop to address post-Sept. 11 trauma said she wanted to help because of her own Sept. 11 experience.
Janet Thornton said her son John, a 1994 Boardman High School graduate, worked for the Port Authority in a World Trade Center office. On Sept. 11, he was going in to work late and was not in the office when terrorists struck. His mother spent several minutes wondering if her son was OK.
"It was about 15 minutes," she said. "But it was sure a long 15 minutes."
The licensed professional clinical counselor said her experience made her glad to volunteer to help locals dealing with stress from the crisis.
About 15 people attended the workshop at the Boardman Public Library put on by Thornton, who works at Total Care, and sponsored by Health Choices Network.
Thornton said those attending talked about physical, mental, emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with crisis.
"It's hard to live in America and not have been affected," she said.