Early interventions following disasters – A place for EMDR and trauma therapy?

Considerable professional debate exists regarding the role of mental health professionals in the early intervention following disasters. Emotional first aid is a natural part of disaster response in western countries, while the active involvement of mental health professionals is debated. The current paradigm is to screen to find those at risk after a period of time (usually > 1 month) and then refer those in need to more active traumatherapeutic assistance based on the screening results. Dr. Dyregrov will argue for an active role for mental health professionals in the early response, but will discuss and question whether EMDR or other specific trauma therapy should be offered within the first few weeks following a disaster.

Conference

English

Atle Dyregrov

Dyregrov, A. (2006, March). Early interventions following disasters - A place for EMDR and trauma therapy? Presentation at the 4th EMDR Association UK & Ireland Annual Conference, London, UK