Page 210 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 5

Trauma Recovery Training at a Seminary? Introducing Global Trauma Recovery Institute

International Society for Traumatic Stress Stu- Here, we are using Skills for Psychological Re-
dies (ISTSS) and am aware that the USA Natio- covery and for more affected individuals, Trau-
nal Child Traumatic Stress Network (NTCSN) ma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
and the National Center for PTSD have deve- In as much as we are utilizing guides from the
loped this guide as the first recommended in- National Center for PTSD, our trauma ap-
tervention following traumatic incidents. PFA proach is set within an African context that is
focuses on the survivor and his needs and not culturally rich and religiously alive. Most of our
on debriefing and trauma story telling. PFA in- therapists are Christians. Hope in Jesus Christ
volves a caring, sympathetic and practical help and existential growth after traumatic events is
to survivors of serious critical events in an ap- one of Africa’s greatest coping mechanisms. We
proach that respects people’s dignity, culture, pray through training and through therapy, ap-
abilities and setting. In Nairobi, it was not easy preciating the role of the Holy Spirit in healing
to change the mindset of our counselors and and restoration. We acknowledge the place of
psychologists who have, in the past “debriefed” lament in healing, borrowing our approach
trauma survivors. However, we made it manda- from the Psalmist who honestly expressed his
tory that we were not asking for trauma stories. innermost feelings to God – anger, perplexity,
Instead, we were to focus on the needs of the sadness and confusion. Survivors begin to rea-
survivor although if need be, this might include lize that God meets them at the place of lament,
the need to tell the trauma story for some. at the point of their need.

The focus of this initial approach is to establish a Monroe emphasizes that in trauma interventi-
human connection in a compassionate manner, ons after critical incidents, the main goal is for
enhance safety, calm the distraught, help survi- the client to learn to stay in the present while
vors share immediate needs, and offer resour- acknowledging their situation and then lear-
ces to help address them. In Nairobi, over the ning how to move on towards recovery. Indeed,
next two weeks post attack, we sent our teams my understanding of traumatic events is that
to rescue centers, hospitals, schools, companies they, like Tsumanis, sweep unexpectedly into
who had lost staff and so on. After the first 14 our lives and cause disorientation. The role of
days, we closed this crisis phase. Most people the Therapist is to create an environment whe-
will recover their balance during this time whe- re orientation can be restored. However, since
re hope is restored, healing connections made, all people are different, their experiences of the
and needs addressed. From October 2013, we trauma will be diverse. This reality calls for re-
moved to Phase 2 and 3. In these phases, we spect and a personalized client-driven road to-
can now follow up individuals who need more ward recovery. This way, post-traumatic grow-
help. The Kenya Red Cross Society with whom th can be realized – the psychological positive
we partnered in this intervention opened three change experienced as a result of challenging
Drop In Centers for follow-up trauma therapy. traumatic experiences.

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