The Traumatic Effects of Disasters

In this course, Dr. Cirecie A. West-Olatunji presents a comprehensive overview of the challenging field of disaster mental health counselling. Reviewing first its goals and mission, Dr. West-Olatunji goes on to explain what clinical practice involves in the chaotic environment of a post-disaster venue. Questions of who the client is and what the role of the mental health provider is become radically different in a disaster. She reviews the stages and types of disasters, the types of responses to disasters, and the pre-impact, impact, and post-disaster stages. Guilt, shame, complicated grief, and P.T.S.D. and/or Acute Stress Disorder all have a particular manifestation when viewed through the prism of disaster. Finally, Dr. West-Olatunji’s unique training and both her life and professional experience qualify her to speak about the largely unrecognised issues of systemic oppression and transgenerational trauma - and the effect of these on survivors of disaster.