Episode 10, Season 5: When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Stress First Aid (SFA)
Guest: Dr. Patricia Watson
As behavioral health providers, many of us receive training, and are well positioned to help people after a disaster or traumatic event. But what do you do in situations of ongoing threat, ongoing stress and adversity perhaps lasting months or years?
In this episode, we are joined by the amazing Dr. Patricia Watson, a psychologist at the National Center for PTSD, who walks us through the incredibly versatile Stress First Aid (SFA) model to include its essential elements, relationship to the stress continuum model, as well as core actions to take based on the type and severity of stress injury. From military members to fire fighters, law enforcement to EMS, harm reduction workers to healthcare workers, this model will help YOU help reduce stress reactions for those who need it most. Come hear the origin stories for both SFA AND Dr. Watson’s career. You won’t want to miss it.
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Show Notes:
Dr. Patricia Watson has been a clinical psychologist at the National Center for PTSD since 1998. Prior to that, she was an active duty Navy psychologist for 8 years. She got her doctoral degree from Catholic University, and postgraduate fellowship in pediatric psychology at Harvard Medical School. She has co-authored versions of Stress First Aid (SFA) for Navy/Marine Corps, Firefighters and Emergency Services Personnel, Law Enforcement Professionals, Wildland Firefighters, Healthcare Providers, Probation Officers, and Rail Workers. Other areas of work include disaster mental health interventions such as Psychological First Aid and Skills for Psychological Recovery, early intervention for traumatic stress, resilience, moral injury, military culture, & trauma in children and adolescents.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/type/stress_first_aid.asp
- https://deploymentpsych.org/Stress-FA-Archive
- https://deploymentpsych.org/content/stress-first-aid-videos-and-handouts
Calls-to-action:
- Review CDP Presents webinar recording on SFA and resources
- Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
- Subscribe to the Center for Deployment Psychology's Monthly Email
This podcast is produced by the Center for Deployment Psychology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Uniformed Services University, the Department of Defense, or the US Government. In addition, reference to any specific company, products, processes, or services does not necessarily constitute or imply endorsement by the Uniformed Services University, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.