Sacramento nonprofit offering free therapy to people affected by downtown mass shooting

The nonprofit organization A Different Path is offering free therapy sessions to victims, family members, witnesses, and public safety professionals affected by the downtown Sacramento shooting that killed six people.

People who have been traumatized, or personally affected by the tragic shooting can register at no charge by completing a Google form the nonprofit is sharing at its Facebook page, facebook.com/adifferentpath.info.

Its team of life coaches and mental health specialists will provide one-on-one sessions.

“A Different Path understands and sympathizes with the individuals of the tragic events that occurred on Sunday, April 3rd Sacramento Mass Shooting, therefore we will be offering free therapy to those individuals for a 90-day period of time,” said founder of A Different Path Ahisha Lewis.

All sessions are confidential.

Lewis orchestrated free therapy sessions in March to help address the individual and community needs for mental health services. Because of the initial feedback and demand for mental therapy services, she knew the campaign would have to return.

Following the tragedy on April 3, Lewis said the return “for obvious reasons” needed to happen sooner.

“The focal point has been on the shooting, not realizing the ripple effects,” said Lewis. “Whenever a stone is thrown into the water and creates a ripple, that can turn into a wave, that can turn into a tsunami but after the tsunami hits, we still (have to) clean it up.”

A Different Path aims to educate underrepresented communities on mental health and establish a healthier lifestyle as it relates to trauma and addiction.

The organization lists equity as a core value as it reaches individuals who lack the resources necessary to access therapy.

For Lewis, she believes this is a “fight” that she’s called to fight in. She said she is answering the call.

“It doesn’t matter the details of what happened (to cause the shooting). The ending continues to be the same,” said Lewis. “We need to change the ending where the ending doesn’t end in someone’s life.

This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 5:25 AM.