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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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