Elevate Your Crisis Response Skills: Psychological First Aid Techniques

What is Psychological First Aid?

Psychological first aid (PFA) is a supportive response to individuals who are suffering emotional distress following an emergency or crisis situation. It involves providing practical care and support, assessing needs, and helping individuals access further assistance if necessary.

Key PFA Techniques

This course covers a range of techniques for providing PFA, including active listening, empathetic communication, practical problem-solving, and referral to professional services.

Active Listening

Active listening is a vital skill in PFA. It involves not only hearing the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, understanding the complete message being sent.

Empathetic Communication

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In PFA, empathetic communication involves acknowledging the person's feelings and showing understanding and care.

Practical Problem-Solving

Practical problem-solving involves helping the affected individual to address immediate problems and concerns. This may involve providing information, advice, or assistance with accessing services.

Referral to Professional Services

Part of providing PFA involves understanding when to refer individuals for further professional help. This course covers how to identify signs that professional assistance may be needed, and how to make appropriate referrals.