22 Feb, 07: An emerging, uncomfortable truth

Last week I attended the 9th International Congress of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation. These are the people who developed Critical Incident Stress Debriefing -- one of the most powerful, primary methods for helping those who've been traumatized. Fire, Police, Sheriffs, EMTs all make use of these methods to help their professional first responders survive -- professionally, emotionally, literally -- a disaster or trauma. The meeting in Baltimore was four days of hard work. It was my first exposure to their meetings, and very interesting! As I mentioned, Fire, Police, Sheriffs, State Trooper departments were in the majority. And they have taken over self-care and pushed a lot of mental health types aside. Their repeated experiences are that mental health professionals don't know what we're doing and may well make things worse!

In the growing theory (praxis) of disaster response/traumatology, these first responders have learned:
1 CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Emotional First Aid are valuable psychological tools in helping start recovery from trauma.
2 Massage Therapy is also a very valuable tool, and it is now welcomed by many at a disaster site or soon after
3 Therapy dogs are outstanding caregivers and are coming to be broadly welcomed at disaster/trauma response events. Many dogs and their handlers were present at the Congress. Large, calm dogs usually work best (sorry, Sissy).
4 Chaplains are valuable allies and are usually welcomed by these first responders

Many mental health providers are still unfamiliar with Emotional First Aid, CISM or EMDR, and are ill-equipped to assist in disasters. Academic psychology is frequently hostile to these useful practices. Consequently, Firemen and others are hostile to academicians.

During the Congress it became clearer and clearer to me that I was still carrying a lot of wounds (stress symptoms)from my year in Louisiana. I'd worked almost nonstop for a year. I had lived under stressful conditions. I hadn't exercised nearly enough. I have spent months emotionally on the edge. I'm hurting and I need help. After admitting this to myself, finally, (yes, we therapists are still human) I've begun to reach out for help. I'm no different from National Guard troops, sheriffs, EMTs or anyone else. I've been there for others. Now it's time to let others be there for me.

don't anyone get too alarmed -- I'm still pretty good at my craft and able to be helpfully present for you if you need me!

Peace,Warren