Disaster Mental Health Counseling : A Guide to Preparing and Responding

Since publication of the third edition of this book, titled Terrorism, Trauma, and Tragedies, disaster preparedness and response has evolved into a distinct counseling specialty with a formal body of knowledge, standards, and protocols Disaster Mental Health Counseling (DMHC). With the continuing increase in mass violence, natural disasters, and other large-scale catastrophic events, specialized attention must be paid to the needs of vulnerable populations and survivors. This book provides current, skill-building information on DMHC for counselors, educators, students, and mental health responders in agencies, schools, universities, and private practice. Experts in the field focus on effective clinical interventions with survivors in the immediate, intermediate, and long-term aftermath of traumatic events. This extensively revised edition meets the CACREP standards for disaster and trauma competencies and is divided into three sections that discuss the foundations and practice of DMHC, specific responses to tragedies in a variety of settings with diverse populations, and global issues and advocacy. At the end of each section, responders personal stories and vital lessons learned are shared through an In Our Own Words feature, and each chapter contains key concepts, discussion questions, and resources for further reading.