Spiritual and Psychological First Aid

Research validates that the help and support people receive in times of crisis matters. Providing effective emotional and spiritual care to individuals, families, and communities in difficult times is critical and can help promote resiliency and recovery. This two-day course endeavors to build helping skills and a better understanding of the unique role of the crisis responder and trains participants in the fundamental principles of spiritual and psychological first aid (SPFA). Care provided in SPFA may be defined as a practical, compassionate, and supportive presence designed to mitigate acute distress, assess needs, provide essential supportive care, and link with other support systems as needed for ongoing spiritual, emotional, and mental health care.

Targeted participants will be trained clergy, chaplains, mental health professionals, crisis responders, and individuals who desire to enhance their skills in providing SPFA to survivors of loss, disaster, emergency, trauma, and crisis settings.

Course Highlights:
At the conclusion of this course, successful students will be able to:

Identify evidence-informed foundations for SPFA
Articulate an understanding of the “ministry of presence” and “companioning.”
Define the essential elements of connecting and communicating with people in crisis
Prepare survivors to understand commonly experienced psychological/ behavioral reactions and the process of recovery
Identify indicators of resiliency, recovery, and post-traumatic growth to encourage help, hope, and healing
Identify how meeting basic human needs is foundational to providing SPFA
Demonstrate essential interventions to help stabilize and protect people in crisis
Create a safe environment that facilitates effective listening and crisis communication
Link those served with existing community support services and develop an ongoing care plan.
Demonstrate skills for assessing the spiritual and psychological needs of individuals in crisis
Utilize a spiritual assessment framework to identify ways to help an individual draw on spiritual and religious resources to cope and foster resiliency

Spiritual and Psychological First Aid​