Clinical First Responder™
The Clinical First Responder™ is based on the medical First
Responder model: A medical first responder is not a doctor
but may be working in a setting where medical needs and emergencies
must be treated. Likewise, a Clinical First Responder™ is
not a psychologist but is operating in an environment where
psychological issues and crises demand a response. The Clinical First Responder™ will train non-clinicians to competently
assist in the care and treatment of clients with psychological,
emotional, and behavioral issues. The goal of the course
is to prepare professionals to respond decisively and appropriately
to the needs of clients in their care before expert assistance
becomes available.
Mental health crises are inherent to wilderness treatment
due to the nature of the clients served and the novelty of
the environment. Such critical incidents are
often the most stressful and challenging aspect of a wilderness
treatment staff's job. The Clinical First Responder™ will
increase field staff's understanding of the psychological
issues and give them the tools to respond effectively to
crises. This in turn can prevent a situation from worsening
and can reduce stress and burnout. The Clinical First Responder™
is designed to increase staff's confidence in dealing with
psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues and to provide
the skills necessary to manage mental health issues within
the scope of their roles.
The daily care of clients in a wilderness treatment program
requires staff to be integrally involved in the delivery
of mental health services. This necessitates that staff be
able to recognize a wide variety of psychological issues,
communicate intelligently with therapists, identify an emergency
situation, and implement therapeutic techniques on behalf
of the clinical staff. Clear decision-making, good judgement,
and effective communication are critical to handling psychological
emergencies in the wilderness. During the CFR, these skills
will be taught and practiced through presentations, scenarios,
and ongoing feedback from trainers and participants.
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