| 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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