Psychological first aid is not a long-term trauma treatment modality. As the name suggests, it’s like a Band-Aid intended to help victims of trauma cope with the immediate aftermath of the incident. Ideally, victims will later seek long-term therapy services. There are a few different models of PFA. With the rise in school shootings during the 1990s, the Listen, Protect and Connect (LPC) model was developed specifically for those incidents. LPC’s primary goals are twofold:
- The stabilization of the emotions and behaviors of affected individuals
- The restoration of an improved mental and emotional state conducive to post-trauma productivity
LPC is an evidence-informed methodology that uses the following steps:
- Listen: The use of reflective listening skills and open-ended, non-invasive questions.
- Protect: The use of a brief screener to identify cognitive, psychological and physiological responses to trauma. Assessments and open discussions can identify which children have maladaptive reactions or are potentially high-risk for PTSD. This step also involves reassuring the child about the actions taken by the school and community to keep the child safe.
- Connect: The connection of students to ongoing mental health care resources, particularly those at a high risk of chronic distress.
During the coming weeks and months, the counselor’s role expands. As students return to school, counselors must be prepared to help them address new and ongoing challenges, such as problems focusing on schoolwork and persistent feelings of insecurity.
Grand Canyon University brings a Christian worldview to our academics. We invite students interested in becoming counselors to explore our BS degree programs by clicking on the Request More Information button. Those who have a particular interest in working with trauma victims may choose to enroll in our Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Health Science with an Emphasis in Trauma program.