Louisiana Spirit Specialized Crisis Counseling: Counselor perceptions of training and services.

Abstract

This study examined perceptions of training, supervision, consultation, services provided, and role satisfaction among program personnel (N = 93) providing assistance to children, adults, and families affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita through the Louisiana Spirit Specialized Crisis Counseling Services (SCCS) Program. Findings indicated that there was uniform high satisfaction with the training, supervision, and consultation, which included the skills-based intervention, Skills for Psychological Recovery, provided by the SCCS Practice Directorate that included staff from Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the National Center for PTSD. Counselors also made high ratings of their perceptions of the helpfulness of services to survivors and overall satisfaction with their work. The vast majority of counselors, who had themselves been seriously affected by the hurricanes, indicated that their own hurricane-related experiences and losses were extremely helpful to them in relating to survivors and providing services. Fully 90% indicated that they had significantly benefited professionally from their work and would be interested in providing SCCS services in the event of another disaster. Provider perceptions of personal strengths derived from the hurricanes were associated with high levels of SCCS program satisfaction and conversely, difficulties providing SCCS services were associated with lower levels of program satisfaction. Multiple regression analyses indicated that provider's perceived negative impact of the hurricane on survivors predicted increased perceived helpfulness of SCCS provider trainings and services to survivors.

Skills for Psychological Recovery: Evaluation of a post-disaster mental health training program

“…A second study from the United States assessed perceptions of a training and community-based outreach and education support program (that incorporated SPR and other evidence-based interventions) among practitioners working in Louisiana following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 16 The training and post-training support provided by expert consultants were rated highly by staff, and the majority thought that the program was helpful to affected community members.…”

Gulf Coast Resilience Coalition: An Evolved Collaborative Built on Shared Disaster Experiences, Response, and Future Preparedness

“…(2) reviewing cases through team meetings to determine appropriate services; (3) providing services and resources to survivors; (4) monitoring and supporting staff through ongoing training, supervision, and consultation; and (5) reviewing successes and further resource needs with survivors during the final visit. 49 The PD was integral to the success of SCCS and the numerous Hurricane Katrina survivors who received longer term services. Following SCCS services, the PD was called upon once again to respond to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.…”

“…SCCS services were developed as an extension of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-funded Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program to meet the longer-term mental health effects 48 . The PD organized and advised the 5-step SCCS services model, which included (1) assessing the current needs of survivors; (2) reviewing cases through team meetings to determine appropriate services; (3) providing services and resources to survivors; (4) monitoring and supporting staff through ongoing training, supervision, and consultation; and (5) reviewing successes and further resource needs with survivors during the final visit 49 . The PD was integral to the success of SCCS and the numerous Hurricane Katrina survivors who received longer term services.…”

Review of VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline on management of acute stress and interventions to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder

“…The skills included in SPR (designed to be stand-alone modules if necessary) are problem solving, positive activity scheduling, managing reactions, promoting helpful thinking, and rebuilding healthy social connections. SPR has been introduced into several postdisaster crisis counseling programs in the United States and Australia, with evaluation reports indicating that it significantly reduced distress and decrements in functioning and was favorably perceived by providers as an acceptable and useful intervention [32][33].…”