The next free three part training is scheduled for:
February 14, 2023, noon - 3pm (ET)
February 28, 2023, noon - 3pm (ET)
March 14, 2023, noon - 3pm (ET)
Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) is an evidence-informed modular intervention that aims to help survivors gain skills to manage distress and cope with post-disaster stress and adversity. It is based on an understanding that disaster survivors will experience a broad range of reactions (physical, psychological, behavioral, spiritual) over differing periods of time. SPR is not formal mental health treatment, but rather a secondary prevention model that utilizes skills-building components that have been found helpful in a variety of post-trauma situations. Although some individuals will need referral for treatment after an event, research suggests that a skills-building approach is more effective than supportive counseling for most.
Who should register:
Faith leaders, youth group leaders, school personnel, family resource and youth services workers (FRYSCs), social service workers, librarians, health care workers, emergency response personnel, or anyone seeking skills in order to offer support to their community after a disaster.
CEUs available:
EILA, FRYSC, Social Workers, Psychologists. LPCC pending approval.
What participants will experience:
SPR aims to help survivors gain skills to manage distress and cope with post-disaster stress and adversity. This course utilizes skills-building components from mental health treatment that have been found helpful in a variety of post-trauma situations. Research suggests that a skills-building approach is more effective than supportive counseling. SPR is appropriate for developmental levels across the lifespan and is culturally informed.
SPR can be delivered in a variety of settings (e.g., schools, clinics, hospitals, assisted living facilities, houses of worship, community centers, libraries, and homes). Each SPR skill can be covered in one contact or meeting with a survivor and then reinforced through the use of handouts and practice. The six SPR skills include:
- Gathering Information and Prioritizing Assistance helps survivors to identify their primary concerns and to pick the SPR strategy to focus on.
- Building Problem-Solving Skills teaches survivors the tools to break problems down into more manageable chunks, identify a range of ways to respond, and create an action plan to move forward.
- Promoting Positive Activities guides survivors to increase meaningful and positive activities in their schedule, with the goal of building resilience and bringing more fulfillment and enjoyment into their life.
- Managing Reactions helps survivors to better manage distressing physical and emotional reactions by using such tools as breathing retraining, writing exercises, and identifying and planning for triggers and reminders.
- Promoting Helpful Thinking assists survivors learn how their thoughts influence their emotions, become more aware of what they are saying to themselves, and replace unhelpful with more helpful thoughts.
- Rebuilding Healthy Social Connections encourages survivors to access and enhance social and community supports while keeping in mind the current post-disaster recovery circumstances.