Psychological First Aid Training (PFA)

Overview

Psychological First Aid has long been established as the gold standard of disaster responses. Created by a global team of experts, it is the only intervention endorsed by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. government (FEMA/MEMA) for use in the aftermath of traumatic events.

The goal of this comprehensive full-day training is to prepare participants to deliver basic behavioral health disaster response skills following large-scale disasters or critical incidents, such as homicides, suicides, accidental deaths, and similarly distressing events.

Participants will be presented with the evolution of efforts to assist survivors following trauma and provided with an overview of the human stress response and how it affects the choice of interventions used with distressed individuals. The eight core functions of Psychological First Aid (PFA) will be taught.

Details

• Audience: Schools, Community Agencies, Hospitals, Workplaces, and Organizations
• Length: 4 or 8 hours (an 8-hour program includes tabletop exercises and other experiential practice sessions)
• CEs: Available

Optional Modules

In addition to the above learning content, the following module may also be added to this training by request.

• The 12-phase Post Traumatic Stress Management (PTSM) continuum, which includes Orientations, Stabilization and Coping groups, culminating in the participation in a Self-Care Coping Group