Overcoming Gun Violence Trauma Through Therapy 
TJ Parker and PCOM's SHELTER Program

Growing up in North Philadelphia, TJ Parker learned early what gun violence could take from a family. Through his own healing, he is finding new ways to help young people and communities move beyond survival.

TJ Parker (right)

Before TJ Parker understood trauma, he knew the sound of gunfire. One of his earliest memories is of his uncle Lenny being shot 11 times outside their home. Parker was inside when it happened.

“I remember being thrown to the floor,” he said. “I was inside of the house, but I could hear everything. That sound stayed with me.”

Years later, his brother, Oronde McClain, was shot in the head at age ten. Parker watched him endure a long, painful recovery. “I went through the entire recovery process with him. It was long, difficult and incredibly painful to watch.”

The violence did not end with those moments. Its effects accumulated, following Parker into adulthood. He kept moving, carrying memories and emotions he had never fully processed. Eventually, the weight became too much.

“I hit rock bottom and realized I had nowhere to put all the emotions I was carrying,” he said.

In February, Parker made a decision that challenged what he had learned about strength: he sought help. It was then that his brother introduced him to PCOM's SHELTER Program, which provides trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy to people affected by gun violence.

Each week, he met with a clinical psychologist, confronting experiences he had carried for years and learning to recognize his triggers, understand his emotions and respond to stress differently.

“SHELTER helped me realize that therapy isn't a sign of weakness, it is a tool for healing,” he said. “It gave me the tools to recognize what I'm feeling, understand what triggers me and learn healthier ways to deal with the stress I face every day.”

For Parker, seeking help was not about erasing the past. It was about no longer having to carry it the same way.

Erik Langenau, DO, MS, MAPP, professor, chief academic technology officer, and co-project director of SHELTER, recognizes that gun violence leaves consequences long after the immediate crisis.

“The impacts on patients, families, survivors, and communities are persistent and long-lasting,” Langenau said. “SHELTER provides a start for individuals and families to restore their sense of safety and wellness.”

Parker knows those lasting effects firsthand. He also knows that the people supporting others through trauma need space to heal themselves.

Today, he serves as the credible messenger engagement coordinator with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, contributing to efforts to address gun violence as a preventable public health issue. He's also the Director of the NextGen Success Program, a trauma-informed youth development initiative serving Philadelphia young people impacted by gun violence and the juvenile justice system.

His work brings him into contact with young people whose experiences may be difficult for others to understand. He does not have to imagine what it means to grow up around violence. He knows what it can leave behind.

But Parker's story is not only about what happened to him. It is about what he chooses to do with what he has learned.

He is committed to helping the most vulnerable members of his community find support, recognize their own potential, and see futures larger than the circumstances they have endured.

He also understands that lived experience has value beyond the personal: it can help communities and institutions better understand the people they serve. The memories remain. So does the work of healing. But neither has the final word on who Parker becomes.

“My experiences have shaped me, but they don’t define me,” he said. “SHELTER has changed my life for the better. If it could help me, I know it can help someone else, too.”

For Parker, moving forward does not mean pretending the gunfire never happened. It means refusing to let those sounds determine everything that comes after.