This was the most destructive natural disaster to affect the Central American region in modern time. Among the lessons learned, according to Doherty, are the need for traumatologists to be well versed in the language and customs of the region in which they are providing services. The lack of understanding Spanish, for example, was a major limitation for service providers helping survivors in Puerto Rico. Also, basic, positive listening skills, the application of sound management and leadership skills were as important as any mental health intervention skills in this disaster. The authors sent letters the Department of Family and Children Services directors in 92 counties in a large southern state requesting permission to survey their child protection workers.
Articles helps explain the traumatization process from the perspective of trauma workers.
Together with findings of other types of trauma workers, it suggests that secondary traumatic stress is a major health challenge that requires immediate attention to protect both the workers and the clients they serve. The second part of the article describes their procedures for selecting the approaches they studied. Inventors of these approaches were invited to form a treatment team to come to the Psychosocial Stress Research Laboratory and treat between half dozen to a dozen pre-screened, traumatized clients over a five day period. Before and after the treatment, the practitioners meet with local practitioners and the study team to discuss their approach and the preliminary findings. This article notes that all four approaches appear to be quite promising based on the preliminary data.