Psychological First Aid – a Crisis Intervention Model

Psychological First Aid is an evidence informed, modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of incidents and disasters to reduce initial distress and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning.

It is basic, non-intrusive pragmatic care with a focus on: listening but not forcing talk; assessing needs and ensuring that basic needs are met; encouraging but not forcing company from significant others; and protecting from further harm.

First ‘do no harm’ is the duty of care of every worker. As Critical Incident Stress debriefing has been discontinued because of the potential harm it may cause workers are left with a lack of clarity in how to proceed. Fortunately, Psychological First Aid (PFA) has been around for over 50years. First coined by Tyhurst in 1951 providing basic psychological support following trauma has been formally advocated for many years.

Learners will be able to take clear frameworks and models of PFA and Crisis Intervention back to their work places and implement positive interventions for best client outcomes.

Participants will be able to:

• Reflect on why critical incident stress debriefing is no longer used
• Understand the clinical importance of effective psychological first aid and crisis intervention
• Differentiate crisis intervention skills from general counselling skills
• Appreciate the historical development of crisis intervention
• Understand that early intervention and early change augers well for good long term therapeutic outcomes
• Explore different frameworks of PFA and crisis intervention
• Apply contextual and relational frameworks in crisis assessment and intervention
• Understand the role of ‘mobility’ in crisis intervention assessment and treatment
• Understand the difference between the ‘neuroception’ and ‘perception’ of danger or life threat
• Appreciate the ‘evolution’ and ‘dissolution’ of structure and function within the human nervous system
• Apply crisis interventions that promote higher order structure and function
• Learn how to ‘track’ and intervene with clients ‘implicit’ experience
• Learn how to ‘track’ the success of your crisis intervention

Who should attend?

Workers who face clients and colleagues who are overwhelmed and in states of crisis.