Training
Although children, adults and families suffer pain, confusion, and heartache as they undergo crises, not only do most survive, but also they go on to thrive in their lives. A fundamental attitude of successful crisis work is to recognize and value this essential resilience of people. Our goal as crisis interveners is not to rescue helpless victims, but to help survivors to reach out to others, make meaning, take heart, and move on. Our training programs offer techniques that promote resilience and resolve in children, adults and families.
Purpose
The purpose of these training programs is to help volunteers and professionals to intervene successfully with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and entire communities in times of crisis.
Objectives
The objectives of our training are:
- To appreciate the resilience of individuals in crisis.
- To recognize crisis as a turning point that involves both threats and opportunities.
- To identify the factors that promote successful crisis resolution.
- To learn specific techniques that help victims become survivors who can go on to thrive in their lives.
Format
The format includes lectures, videotaped examples, demonstrations, experiential exercises, discussions, and practice. Handouts with more detailed information, recommended readings, and local referral resources are provided to participants. CHARTT offers specialized training for emergency responders, CERT, clergy and faith organizations, educators, and counselors and therapists.
Presenters
Anne L. Stewart, Ph.D., is Professor of Graduate Psychology at James Madison University and president of the Virginia Play Therapy Association. She has offered consultation, training and crisis intervention services throughout the world. Her projects have included grant-funded programs to promote humanitarian demining in Vietnam, Cambodia, Bosnia, and Mozambique. Last year, Anne offered play-based interventions in Sri Lanka to children and families who had survived the massive tsunami. More recently, Anne traveled to Mississippi to work with survivors of Hurricane Katrina. She is the recipient of the James Madison University "All Together One" Award and the College of Integrated Science and Technology Service Award. You can email Anne at stewaral at jmu.edu or telephone her at 540.568.6601.
Lennis G. Echterling, Ph.D., is Professor and Director of Counseling Psychology at James Madison University. A trainer for the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children, Lennie has more than 30 years of experience in crisis and disaster work throughout the Midwest, Southeast, and most recently, in the Gulf area. His latest book is "Crisis Intervention: Promoting Resilience and Resolution in Troubled Times," published by Prentice Hall. Lennie has received the James Madison Distinguished Faculty Award, the Virginia Counselors Association's Humanitarian and Caring Person Award, and the national Counseling Vision and Innovation Award from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. You can email Lennie at echterlg at jmu.edu or telephone him at 540.568.6522.
