Nature of Services Provided

The exact nature of a disaster is not predictable, so we need to be flexible and adaptable in our provision of services. However some general characteristics and expectations of our services can be identified.

Our services will be brief, usually involving just one session. Most recipients will be well-functioning individuals who are stressed following an event that exceeds their normal experience.

We will generally provide services to groups of participants. This is both to make it possible to serve large numbers in a short time and because there are possible benefits from sharing experiences amongst participants and group emotional support. However, for defusing there may be situations where an APNS Volunteer might be asked to see someone individually (e.g. for brief assessment and referral of someone who is quite distressed).

The APNS does not endorse any single “model” or procedure for post-trauma debriefing. At present there is no scientific justification for considering any particular debriefing procedure as superior to others.

However, group debriefings will be described to other organizations and to potential participants as opportunities to discuss the traumatic experience and learn something about coping with it. It is generally expected that group debriefings will include the following components:

1. Initial clarification of the purpose and limitations of the meeting, and articulation of the planned agenda, process and “ground rules”.

2. Opportunity for participants to voluntarily discuss their experience of the traumatic event.

3. Suggestions of appropriate coping methods from the psychologist(s) leading the debriefing.

The duration of a group meeting could range from a relatively brief “defusing” to a debriefing of several hours in duration.

It is also expected that it will be part of the psychologist’s role to try to identify any individuals who may be in need of follow-up care and to try to take some action to facilitate appropriate referral.

APNS Volunteers are not expected to provide “therapy” to individuals or groups, not even on a one-session basis. Debriefings are not meant to be treatment for psychological problems. Individuals might be seen but only for reasons of brief assessment, emotional support and referral.

It is advisable to be cognizant of the possibility that some group participants will have pre-existing psychological problems that may be aggravated by the traumatic experience. On the basis of epidemiological ratios alone, every group will likely have someone with a significant psychological problem. However, such problems may not be readily identifiable or relevant to the disaster experience. APNS Volunteers are expected to focus only on the immediate effects of the disaster and coping with it.

Although not always possible, it is usually preferable for debriefings to be facilitated by two psychologists or by a psychologist and an experienced mental health practitioner. Thus, the co-leaders will need to meet beforehand to plan the session and co-ordinate roles. Although APNS does not endorse any particular debriefing procedure, many emergency organizations and personnel follow a so-called “Mitchell Model” of debriefing. Thus, having some familiarity with that procedure will be useful if you are going to be working with emergency personnel as participants or co-leaders. Details of Mitchell’s approach, along with other related information can be found at www.icisf.org. A reading list is also provided.

The APNS Disaster Response Coordinator (DRC) will provide you with background information on the disaster and current situation and probably will handle the initial arrangements for debriefings, in conjunction with EMO personnel or others. However, at some point you may be asked to work out the specifics of needed facilities, exact scheduling, etc. with some on-site emergency personnel.

There will always be some degree of organizational flux and potential for confusion following a major disaster and the arrival of many different agencies and personnel with different priorities and ways of doing things. This heightens the importance of maintaining our own internal organization and of following whatever lines of communication and inter-organizational relationships that our DRC has worked out with other organizations. Do not agree to do debriefings or take other significant actions without first discussing it with the DRC. There may be (probably will be) various “big picture” issues and complications that only the DRC will be aware of and will need to address.

Psychologists are accustomed to working with professional autonomy and the APNS believes you should have professional autonomy in the conduct of your assigned post-disaster services. However, the nature of a post-disaster situation requires everyone to know and stay within their organization role. This is how experienced emergency response organizations (police, fire, military) do it, for many good reasons. Psychologists are expected to follow our Code of Ethics in all professional situations, including the provision of post-disaster services .