| In
describing The American Academy of Experts in
Traumatic Stress, we refer to our association
as being multidisciplinary. However, if the Academy
defines traumatic stress as "the emotional,
cognitive and behavioral experience of individuals
who have been exposed to, or who witness, events
that are extreme and/or life threatening,"
then why not focus on establishing a strong network
limited to mental health practitioners?
What do an orthopedist,
a dentist, a cardiovascular surgeon, a police
sergeant, or a pediatrician have in common that
suggests a need to bring them under one umbrella
and further, to identify expertise among them
in the field of traumatic stress? Why should they
not simply recognize the need for a mental health
consultation and provide appropriate referrals?
For years I have
believed that by reaching people early following
a traumatic event, we can potentially prevent
the acute difficulties of today from becoming
the chronic problems of tomorrow. In the same
way, we can potentially prevent the acute stress
reactions of the present from becoming the chronic
stress disorders of the future. It is crucial
that we recognize that all people who work directly
with survivors of traumatic events are in a position
to provide effective early intervention. This
is not to imply that the need for a psychiatric/psychological
interview should be overlooked. Moreover, it is
certainly important that non-mental health practitioners
be aware of their limitations in providing appropriate
counseling.
But it is equally
important to recognize that professionals from
many different fields work regularly on the front
lines with trauma victims. And I believe they
are often in the best position to guide those
victims down the road toward becoming survivors--and
even thrivers. The mission of The American Academy
of Experts in Traumatic Stress is to increase
awareness of the effects of trauma and ultimately
to improve treatment for survivors. It is in this
spirit that I propose that all caregivers become
more sensitive to the opportunity to reach people
in the early stages following traumatic exposure
and to initiate intervention.
The literature
concerning early intervention with survivors of
traumatic events consistently supports the need
for 1) cultivating rapport (i.e., a helping relationship
characterized by empathic understanding, warmth
and genuineness), 2) providing individuals with
the opportunity to talk about their experiences
(i.e., encouraging people to "tell their
stories" and to begin to expose themselves
to painful thoughts and feelings) and 3) utilizing
an educational component (i.e., providing people
with knowledge to better understand the physiological
and psychological effects of trauma). Professionals
from all fields can certainly become more adept
in implementing these steps.
It is my conviction
that we must approach intervention with survivors
as a multidisciplinary effort. And it is my vision
that the Academy, through our publications, such
as Trauma Response, our "guest quarters"
on the Internet (http://www.aaets.org), our National
Training Conferences, and regular networking will
enable caregivers from all fields to provide highly
effective early intervention.
©1997
by The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic
Stress, Inc.
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