Psychological first aid

Streaming video - 2014

"The field of mental health has changed from a deficit model to a strength model. And that's what psychological first aid does. It says that we don't have to look at the deficits and dysfunctions. Instead, we should look at the strengths that the individual has and build on them. " Chris Dunning, PhD. Many mental health professionals volunteer their time as first responders in the wake of large-scale disasters. All too often, they've found that their clinical training and therapeutic instincts don't fully apply to the circumstances in which they find themselves, and may actually render them less effective. It was in response to this problem that the psychological first aid model was developed. In this video ser...ies, leading researchers share the model they've helped create, one that' designed to provide the tools and guidance necessary for clinicians to respond appropriately to the often overwhelming needs of disaster survivors. The observations of the theorists are complemented by interviews with first responders whose assignments have taken them to New York after 9/11, the Superdome after Katrina, and Haiti after its earthquake. First-person accounts from survivors of a California firestorm also are included. Presenters include Patricia Watson, Josef Ruzek, Chris Dunning, Charles Figley, and John Violanti. more