ASAP is an EMDR-based, evidence-supported intervention that assists first responders to process stressful and/or traumatic events. It is modified for the safe use by trained peer support members, chaplains & clinicians. It shows a reduction of 50-66% in post-traumatic stress symptoms. It can be offered one-on-one or in a group setting.
Stephanie is an authorized instructor by the ASAP co-creator, Sonny Provetto, LCSW, EMDR Consultant, of Vermont Center for Responder Wellness.
Yes! The protocol is created to be safe and effective for use
by those trained in ASAP. They receive significant training
and support by EMDR/trauma clinicians to maintain
competency to deliver ASAP. Often, clinicians are available
on-site or by immediate referral.
Yes! No record is kept of who attended or how it went. Also, since facilitators are the only ones talking, each attendee’s reason for attending is kept private. It does not violate gag orders and has been approved by union reps for critical incidents under investigation.
An ASAP session lasts 45-60 minutes, beginning with an introduction to the process, 3 helpful stress management exercises followed by 3 rounds of adaptive processing. Lastly, a closing activity is offered to help everyone manage any lingering stress. It can be offered at a group or individual level. Additional sources of support are available, if needed. Most people report significant relief from the stressful event at the conclusion of the ASAP. See the video below for a brief explanation.
Consistent with preventative healthcare or car maintenance, ASAP is helpful before you show signs of needing it. Attending ASAP for stress management tools and to process “low-grade” events is a great way to remain resilient. If you’re already struggling with an event, ASAP is helpful as well. Again, research shows 50-66% reduction in post-traumatic stress symptoms in first responders.
Coming soon! Please email Stephanie @firstresponderpsych@gmail.com to be placed on the waiting list.
Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) Video
Stephanie's Interview with Portland Fire & Rescue
This course will describe how first responders can take proactive and responsive steps to adaptively respond to chronic stress and trauma. A discussion of the risk and protective factors that influence wellbeing is offered to assist first responders to understand their own experiences with trauma and stress and how to mitigate their impact. This will include a plain-language discussion of the neurobiology of trauma. Resilience research is applied to the unique issues of first responder work, generating practical strategies to promote resilience. This discussion will be fortified with practical exercises that assess current levels of resilience and map a resilience-building plan.
In this course, I discuss the complementary roles of proactive resilience building (peer support) and critical incident response (CISM). Attendees will learn how to use peer support to inoculate co-workers from the impacts of daily stressors and traumas, further inoculating them from future critical incident stress. To achieve this, they will learn how to identify the common and uncommon signs of mental health issues affecting co-workers and how to have helpful conversations to support them. They will also learn how to manage unique challenges in the supporter role such as confidentiality, suicidality, disciplinary investigations, and healthy boundaries. Role-play exercises will fortify learning, allowing for immediate feedback to improve interpersonal effectiveness.
This course offers an explanation of secondary traumatic stress, how it differs from post-traumatic stress and burnout, and how it impacts first responders and their families. Proactive and reactive strategies are offered for individuals and organizations to mitigate the accumulation of stress resulting in secondary traumatic stress disorder (STSD). They also learn how to maintain a professional, compassionate approach to working with victims. The strategies and benefits of work-life balance will be offered.
This course offers families of first responders insights into the changes that occur over the
career of the first responder. Families are assisted in identifying these changes and
communicating them in a supportive manner to their first responder. They also learn to
build their own resilience, as they adapt to the givens of first responder work (danger,
shiftwork, public scrutiny). Lastly, families are equipped with resources to continue
building their resilience, which will, in turn, fortify the first responder’s resilience.
This program is designed to teach participants the fundamentals of, and a specific protocol for, individual crisis intervention.This course is designed for anyone who desires to increase their knowledge of individual (one-on-one) crisis intervention techniques in the fields of Business & Industry, Crisis Intervention, Disaster Response, Education, Emergency Services, Employee Assistance, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Mental Health, Military, Spiritual Care, and Traumatic Stress.
Designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multi-component crisis intervention curriculum, the Group Crisis Intervention course will prepare participants to understand a wide range of crisis intervention services. Fundamentals of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) will be outlined and participants will leave with the knowledge and tools to provide several group crisis interventions, specifically demobilizations, defusings and the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). The need for appropriate follow-up services and referrals when necessary will also be discussed.
This course is designed for anyone in the fields of Business & Industry Crisis Intervention, Disaster Response, Education, Emergency Services, Employee Assistance, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Mental Health, Military, Spiritual Care, and Traumatic Stress.
"Finally! Someone who has 'been there, done that'. Great to hear from someone who knows all sides. Stephanie speaks our language & calls it like it is."
"I really enjoyed the instructor. She brings credibility to the training. She's not full of shit!"
"It's the first training I've attended that specifically knows about and includes dispatchers. Thank you!"
"Great info, liked all topics, instructor could relate to us and is very knowledgeable about this topic. Enjoyed the class. Everyone needs to take this class."
"I wish I could have had this training early on in my career.