The Effects of Psychological First Aid Training on Coping Strategies Used by Counselors in Crisis Interventions

Year 2026, Volume: 16 Issue: 80, 64 - 73, 27.03.2026

İrem Şahin Yoluk , Meral Atıcı

https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1641517

https://izlik.org/JA35RW72AW

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of the Psychological First Aid Training Program (PFATP), which was developed by researchers in 2022 for psychological counselors, and its impacts on the coping strategies used in crisis interventions. A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 33 psychological counselors who are currently working in Adana, Türkiye. Quantitative data were collected through pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measurements administered to experimental and control groups. The Friedman test was used to analyze within-group differences, while the Mann–Whitney U test was employed for between-group comparisons. The findings indicated that the PFATP significantly increased counselors’ psychological first aid knowledge and skills. The study highlights the potential of crisis and trauma focused training to enhance professional competence among counselors. No qualitative follow-up was conducted in this research.

Keywords

psychological first aid , crisis intervention , coping strategies , counsellors

References

• Akkaya, M. S. (2018). Okul psikolojik danışmanlarının kriz durumlarıyla ilişkili bazı niteliklerinin incelenmesi [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Doğu Akdeniz Üniversitesi.
• Asaoka, H., Koido, Y., Kawashima, Y., Ikeda, M., Miyamoto, Y., & Nishi, D. (2023). Association between attitudes toward trauma informed care and psychological first-aid training experience among health care professionals in Japan. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 17, e443, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2023.103
• Birch, D. A. (1998). Identifying sources of social support. The Journal of School Health, 68(4), 159–161.
• Bischof, N. L. (2006). School psychology and crisis intervention: A survey of school psychologists’ involvement and training [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
• Brown, S. D., & Lent, R. W. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of counseling psychology. John Wiley & Sons.
• Brymer, M., Jacobs, A., Layne, C., Pynoos, R., Ruzek, J., Steinberg, A., ... & Watson, P. (2006). Psychological first aid: Field operations guide (2nd ed.). National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD. Retrieved from http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/pfa/english/1-psyfirstaid_final_complete_manual.pdf
• Caplan, G. (1964). Principles of preventive psychiatry. Basic Books.
• Çuhadar, F. M. (2020). Ergenlerin başa çıkma stratejileri ile psikolojik yardım aramaya ilişkin tutumları arasındaki ilişkiler [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Atatürk Üniversitesi.
• Dwarawati, D., Nugrahawati, E. N., Rozana, A., Lintang, B., Roro, S. A. P. R., Alimiyah, W. S., & Putri, B. A. (2020, March). Psychological First Aid Training for KSR-Unisba. In Proceedings of the 2nd Social and Humaniora Research Symposium (SoRes 2019) (pp. 596–598). Atlantis Press.
• Ediz, Ç., & Yanık, D. (2024). Disaster preparedness perception, psychological resilience and empathy levels of nurses after 2023 Great Turkiye earthquake: Are nurses prepared for disasters? A risk management study. Public Health Nursing, 41(1), 164–174. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.13267
• Erdur-Baker, Ö. (2017). Afetler, krizler, travmalar ve travmatik stres tepkileri. In Ö. Erdur-Baker & T. Doğan (Eds.), Afetler, krizler, travmalar ve psikolojik yardım (pp. 3–25). Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Derneği.
• Everly, J. G., Barnett, D. J., Sperry, N. L., & Links, J. M. (2010). The use of psychological first aid (PFA) training among nurses to enhance population resiliency. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 12(1), 21–31.
• Fonseca, T. A. (2008). Professional school counselor perception of preparedness in stabilizing a student in specific crisis situations: A random sample of American School Counselor Association members [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Mississippi State University.
• Geyran Çervatoğlu, P. (2000). Psikolojik travma ve sonuçları: Tarihsel arka plan ve güncel kavramlar üzerine gözden geçirme. Psikiyatri Psikoloji Psikofarmakoloji Dergisi, 8, 9–12.
• Gignoux-Froment, F., Saguin, E., Gorin, C., Daudin, M., Annette, S., Salomé, J., ... & Colas, M. D. (2024). Psychological first aid in operation for military healthcare providers: A study on pre-deployment training. L'Encéphale. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.encep.2024.03.006
• Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC). (2007). IASC guidelines on mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. IASC.
• Janosik, E. H. (1986). Crisis counseling: A contemporary approach. Brooks/Cole.
• Kılıç, N. (2018). Psikolojik ilk yardım eğitiminin afet hazırlık algısı ve öz-yeterliliğe etkisi [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Erciyes Üniversitesi.
• Kılınç Çelebi, E. (2025). Öğretmenler için geliştirilen psikolojik ilk yardım eğitim programının krize müdahale becerilerine etkisi [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Çukurova Üniversitesi.
• Kouvatsou, Z., Degermedgoglou, G., Karamagioli, E., & Pikoulis, E. (2022). Psychological first aid training of police officers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 37(4), 856–862. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-022-09523-9
• Kurniawan, L., Wulandari, N. Y., Ningsih, R., & Sutanti, N. (2021). Psychological First Aid (PFA) training for teachers in Indonesia and Malaysia. International Journal of Community Service, 2(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.51601/ijcs.v2i1.58
• Lawshe, C. H. (1975). A quantitative approach to content validity. Personnel Psychology, 28(4), 563–575. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1975.tb01393.x
• Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.
• Lazzara, K. C. (1999). Crisis and the schools: A survey of current response [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of Kansas.
• Leon, G. R. (2004). Overview of the psychosocial impact of disasters. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 19(1), 4–9.
• Litz, B. T. (2008). Early intervention for trauma: Where are we and where do we need to go? A commentary. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21(6), 503–506.
• McCabe, O. L., Perry, C., Azur, M., Taylor, H. G., Bailey, M., & Links, J. M. (2011). Psychological first-aid training for paraprofessionals: A systems-based model for enhancing capacity of rural emergency responses. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 26(4), 251–258. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X11006297
• McCabe, O. L., Everly, G. S. Jr., Brown, L. M., Wendelboe, A. M., Abd Hamid, N. H., Tallchief, V. L., & Links, J. M. (2014). Psychological first aid: A consensus-derived, empirically supported, competency-based training model. American Journal of Public Health, 104(4), 621–628. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301219
• Mete-Otlu, B., & Aysan, F. (2017). Okul psikolojik danışmanlarının krize müdahalede kullandıkları başa çıkma stratejileri: İzmir ili örneği. Kastamonu Eğitim Dergisi, 25(2), 459–478.
• Mete-Otlu, B. (2011). Okul psikolojik danışmanlarının krize müdahalede kullandıkları başa çıkma stratejilerinin incelenmesi: İzmir ili örneği [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi.
• Napoli, J. C. (2007). Resiliency, resilience, resilient: A paradigm shift? Retrieved from http://www.resiliency.us/uploads/1/4/1/1/14110626/resiliency_r_r__a__paradigm_shift.pdf
• Oflaz, F. (2008). Felaketlerin psikolojik etkileri ve hemşirelik uygulaması. CÜ Hemşirelik Yüksekokulu Dergisi, 12(3), 70–76.
• Park, J., & Choi, Y. (2022). The effect of a simulated fire disaster psychological first aid training program on the self-efficacy, competence, and knowledge of mental health practitioners. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 16(1), 102–108. https://doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2020.184
• Parry, G. (1990). Coping with crisis. Universities Press.
• Pearson, R. E. (1990). Counseling and social support: Perspectives and practice. Sage Publications.
• Ruzek, J. I. (2007). Psychological first aid. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 29(1), 17–33.
• Saygılı, F. (2023). Psikolojik ilk yardım psiko-eğitim programının psikolojik danışman adaylarının psikolojik ilk yardım becerilerine etkisi [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi.
• Senemoğlu, N. (2012). Gelişim, öğrenme ve öğretim: Kuramdan uygulamaya. Pegem Akademi.
• Shultz, J. M., & Forbes, D. (2014). Psychological first aid: Rapid proliferation and the search for evidence. Disaster Health, 2(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.4161/dish.26006
• Stephan, J. B. (2005). School environment and coping resources: A predictive model of school counselor burnout [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. University of North Carolina.
• Tarhan, S. (2012). Umudun özyeterlik, algılanan sosyal destek ve kişilik özelliklerinden yordanması [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Gazi Üniversitesi.
• Tedeschi, R. G., & Calhoun, L. G. (1996). Trauma and transformation: Growing in the aftermath of suffering. Sage Publications.
• Turgut, Ö. (2015). Ergenlerin psikolojik sağlamlık düzeylerinin, önemli yaşam olayları, algılanan sosyal destek ve okul bağlılığı açısından incelenmesi [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Anadolu Üniversitesi. World Health Organization, War Trauma Foundation, & World Vision International. (2011). Psychological first aid: Guide for field workers. WHO