Role of the Counselor in Emergency Management Teams

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next phase is the Symptom phase: patients/inmates describe the symptoms of distress that they experienced during or after the incident. Teaching phase follows that: the treatment team provides information and suggestions that can be used to reduce the impact of the crisis. And finally the re-entry phase: the treatment team answers any questions the patient may have and provide suggestions for reducing the odds for the same crisis to occur again.

Counselor Responsibilities in Emergency Management

In cases of sex violations, suicide, mental illnesses and chronic diseases, counselors should position themselves in strategic locations while working with emergency management teams to ensure they serve all the casualties as they arrive in treatment locations. The sensitive natures of these emergencies will make counselors to also work in teams to help handle challenges related to suicide, mental illnesses and rape, since these are traumatic events and may not be easily forgotten by the victims. Counselors should draw a plan of offering therapy to such victims to ensure their emotional instability is contained over time. The role of counselors in such emergencies is to keep information watertight. This will ensure confidentiality thus making patients free and able to talk about their ordeals (Heath et al., 2009).

Skills, Knowledge, and Training Required for Crisis Counselors

Consequently, the counselors in emergency management teams must be knowledgeable about emergency cases, and be able to understand when a victim is in need of emergency attention. For instance, they should immediately handle a victim who just gives a blank stare or looks confused, and use their expertise to give them proper therapy. Counselors in accident scenes need to maintain roaming positions, to ensure that those victims in dire need of help and not in a position to visit pitched tents are provided with immediate attention. They can provide the victims with fluids and food to gain strength, before offering them counseling (Shamai and Ron, 2009).

References

Heath, M., Nickerson, A., Annandale, N., Kemple, A., & Dean, B. (January 01, 2009). Strengthening

Cultural Sensitivity in Children’s Disaster Mental Health Services. School Psychology International, 30, 4, 347-373.

Cooper, C. L., Quick, J. C., & Schabracq, M. (2009). International handbook of work and health

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Harrold, J. R. (January 01, 2009). Achieving Agility in Disaster Management. International Journal of

Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management, 1, 1, 1-11.

Margison, J., & Shore, B. (January 01, 2009). Interprofessional Practice and Education in Health Care.

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