Transforming humanitarian work
Guided by the community. Listening from the heart.
Read allAre you curious about the field of psychosocial support and community wellness, or psychological first aid? Our introductory course is the perfect way to get a taste of what these courses have to offer. In this short self-paced course, you’ll experience the unique approach and […]
Psychological First Aid (PFA) is the current international standard for care and support for individuals in the midst of or the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event. This evidence-based technique replaces the debriefing process that was used in the past.
There is no “one size fits all” in PSS work, because each community has its own needs, traditions, and its own hidden strengths. This course is designed to work with you as you explore working at a deeper level within your own community.
No country is set up to meet the mental health needs of their population. This is why Psychosocial Support and Community Wellness are important.
Read morePsychosocial support (PSS) acknowledges that we humans are social beings and that in order for us to be psychologically healthy, we have to recognize our social connections. At Focusing Initiatives, we say that each of us needs a healthy community for true psychological well-being.
Psychosocial support also recognizes that in times of trauma and after traumatic events, some people will need professional care. Yet, even in times of crisis, most people recover and thrive through their enduring social support systems, shared norms and values, and inner resilience. PSS techniques are designed to support and promote these internal and inter-connected strengths and values. And in some cases, the recovery process brings about stronger connections, increased resilience and improved social systems.
Read moreMy fear kept me safe from Ebola. I worked in Liberia when Ebola was on the rise, then again when it was almost gone. As I sit here today thinking about these experiences and about the current warnings about a global pandemic from the coronavirus, […]
As she spoke, all I did was to listen to her, reflecting where required. As soon as she completed the narration of the complete ordeal, she stood up and said: “My brain has started working and I need to go to my unit to support my team.”
Community wellness is based on a public health approach with two assumptions. First, most illnesses are preventable, including various types of mental illness. Second, the community itself contains many solutions to its own health needs and already has many techniques to encourage resilience and wellness. […]
An Interview with Anna Willman, in conversation with Dana Hercbergs I met Anna in 2021 through the Focusing community and occasionally attended her weekly Saturday Listening Space, an online peer support group. Her facilitation style melds her own grounded attention with her wonderful sense of […]
Building a community wellness program reminds me of my recent experience knitting my grandson’s sweater. Here I was happily knitting away and I was almost finished with the body of the sweater when I realized the front was completely wrong.
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