The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid

Description

Learn the essential skills of psychological first aid from the expert who created the Johns Hopkins RAPID PFA method. Psychological first aid, or PFA, is designed to mitigate the effects of acute stress and trauma and assist those in crisis to cope effectively with adversity. PFA is designed to be applied in emergencies, including disasters and terrorist attacks. In this essential guide, George S. Everly, Jr., developer of the Johns Hopkins RAPID PFA method, and Jeffrey M. Lating, his collaborator in its implementation, describe the principles and practices underpinning this psychological model in an easy-to-follow, prescriptive, and practical manner. They explain the history of PFA and persuasively demonstrate its powerful versatility. Mental health practitioners can apply PFA in all settings. It can also be used as a public-health tool to address mental health needs following critical incidents and as a means for building community resilience. Aimed at mental health practitioners, all first responders, and global health disaster teams such as Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization, The Johns Hopkins Guide to Psychological First Aid is the first book to thoroughly explain RAPID PFA. RAPID, a unique theoretically grounded and evidence-based PFA method, follows a set of easily understood principles. In each chapter, Everly and Lating provide a step-by-step approach and include a key point summary to emphasize essential elements. A unifying case exemplifies each phase of the RAPID PFA model in an ongoing dialogue that presents ideal PFA responses, examples of common mistakes, and various outcomes. In addition to their counseling experience in Kuwait after the Gulf War and in New York City after the September 11 attacks, the authors have traveled nationally and internationally to teach the RAPID PFA method in numerous public health, fire, police, military, and faith-based settings. Beneficial to those with little or no previous mental health training, this book is an essential tool for people who want to learn, to practice, or to retain their ability to use psychological first aid effectively. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Preface | How Did We Get Here? Acknowledgments Part I. Psychological First Aid | The Science 1. Psychological First Aid | Definition and History Defining Psychological First Aid Development of the PFA Concept PFA PFA Recommended Core Competencies of PFA Validation of the Johns Hopkins RAPID PFA Model Key Point Summary References 2. Psychological Consequences of Trauma | What You Will Encounter in the Field Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Depression Generalized Anxiety Panic Disordery Substance Use Psychophysiological Stress Syndromes Key Point Summary References 3. In the Wake of Disaster | The Large-Scale Context for PFA Types of Disasters Natural Disasters Technological Disasters Human-Made Disasters War-Related Syndromes: A Special Case of Human-Made Disaster Factors That Increase Severity Key Point Summary References Part II. Psychological First Aid | Practicing the Art 4. R—Establishing Rapport and Reflective Listening First Things First: The Practice of Presence Empathy and Rapport The Empathic Cascade: The Bridge from Rapport to Adherence Historical Development Mechanisms of Action Demonstration of the R in RAPID Model Key Point Summary References 5. A —Assessment | Listening to the Story Screening Appraisal Cognitive Indicia Emotional Indicia Behavioral Indicia Spiritual Indicia Physiological Indicia Demonstration of the A in RAPID Model Key Point Summary References 6. P—Psychological Triage | Prioritization Urgency! Psychological or Behavioral Instability: The Crisis Triad Putting It All Together: The A-B-C Model of Psychological Triage Demonstration of the P in RAPID Model Key Point Summary References 7. I —Intervention Tactics to Stabilize and Mitigate Acute Distress Explanatory Guidance Anticipatory Guidance Cognitive Reframing Stress Management Instillation of a Future Orientation—Hope Enlisting the Support of Family and Friends Delay Making Any Life-Altering Decisions/Changes Faith-Based Intervention in PFA When in Doubt . . . Caution! Demonstration of the I in RAPID Model Key Point Summary References 8. D—Disposition and Facilitating Access to Continued Care Where Do We Go from Here? Encouragement Resources Demonstration of the D in RAPID Model Follow-Up and Disposition Key Point Summary References 9. Self-Care | Taking Care of Others Begins (and Ends) with Taking Care of Yourself The Need for Self-Care Terminology Risk Factors Self-Care Developing a Plan Key Point Summary References Appendix | A Breathing Technique Index About the Authors