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Dialog is our best tool for working with people in crisis who are sincerely looking for answers. Even in same language and culture there are challenges in communicating with someone in crisis because their brain is functioning at a primitive level (fight or flight mode). First and foremost acknowledge their expressed emotions irregardless to the facts that are presented. Deal with the emotions first and then as they calm the facts can be addressed more directly. Second, as we communicate we must understand the limitations of reasoning with a person in distress. A distressed person has trouble with negatives, time and chronology. Therefore our first set of communications have to be simple and in the present tense. In general we invite the person to tell us more about what is making them so distressed, we paraphrase our understanding of what they are saying and then invite a joint problem solving effort. (The preceding material is my professional teaching - JT)
The HHS recommended training guide with specific examples of dialog is the Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide from the National Center for PTSD.
The HHS recommended training guide with specific examples of dialog is the Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide from the National Center for PTSD.
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