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Fishing Lessons for Treating the Traumatized: History of the Traumatology Certification Program
Abstract
The article relates the history of the Traumatology Certification Program from its beginnings at the laboratory of the Florida State University (FSU) Psychosocial Stress Research Program in 1996, a program that emerged as a response to one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in the United States. Along the way the Program won a prestigious award, stimulated the establishment of the Traumatology Institute at FSU as its home, created the Certified Traumatologist, Field Traumatologist, and Certified Compassion Fatigue Specialist certifications, and established fourteen other teaching institutes nationally and internationally. The Program’s journey from Oklahoma City to Tallahassee to Tampa, and back to Tallahassee, are chronicled along with a description of the Program’s Certification Standards, the courses, and the people who are part of this history. The final section of the paper discusses the importance of maintaining, reviewing, and improving the standards of practice for the field of traumatology, the certification standards that support such practices, and the accreditation standards for teaching institutes that teach the sanctioned courses. As a result there are more assurances that evidence-based best practices are taught with sensitivity to culture, region, nationality, language, and history. Moreover, developing competence in these best practices not only insures the protection of the public, it insures that such standards will permeate all levels of professional education from the training of paraprofessionals and volunteers through the education of graduate and doctoral students.
... 5 It quickly became obvious that, if another large-scale traumatic event (e.g., another terrorist attack) that required the services of the GCP were to occur, money and other resources would be required with very short notice. The Green Cross training program found a permanent home at the time with Florida State University's Center for Professional Development (Figley, 2003). ...
... 6 The new Green Cross Foundation was to serve as a "guardian angel" for the Green Cross Projects and its Registered Traumatologist Certification Program. This role would be especially important as the latter became the Traumatology Certification Program administered by the FSU Traumatology (teaching) Institute and had to compete for funding along with other such programs at the FSU Center for Professional Development where the teaching institute was located (Figley, 2003). 7 With FSU taking over the certification program and the Green Cross Foundation providing financial and institutional consultation and FSU providing staff, the Green Cross Project (GCP) formed its own organization and sought non-profit status through its new board of directors. ...
... The author began to discuss (with his University and its School of Social Work), the utility of transforming the Oklahoma training program of five courses into a world-class program. 12 In December, 1997 (as noted in Figley, 2003) the GCP's Registered Traumatologist certification program became the Florida State University Traumatology Institute's Traumatology Certification Program. 13 Courses were offered through the Traumatology (teaching) Institute starting in the spring of 1998. ...
Following a brief overview, this article describes the inception of the Green Cross Foundation, its history, and its programs as a way of illustrating how an institution developed in response to a set of vital needs. The Foundation emerged to provide financial and intellectual leadership in a new era of threat. To meet this threat, the Foundation established the Academy of Traumatology to identify the world leaders in the field and to establish the first set of Standards of Traumatology Practice. The Academy and the Foundation were instrumental in establishing a Traumatology Certification program that eventually led to the formation of a Commission to administer it. The article also addresses the future directions of the Foundation.
... 5 It quickly became obvious that, if another large-scale traumatic event (e.g., another terrorist attack) that required the services of the GCP were to occur, money and other resources would be required with very short notice. The Green Cross training program found a permanent home at the time with Florida State University's Center for Professional Development (Figley, 2003). ...
... 6 The new Green Cross Foundation was to serve as a "guardian angel" for the Green Cross Projects and its Registered Traumatologist Certification Program. This role would be especially important as the latter became the Traumatology Certification Program administered by the FSU Traumatology (teaching) Institute and had to compete for funding along with other such programs at the FSU Center for Professional Development where the teaching institute was located (Figley, 2003). 7 With FSU taking over the certification program and the Green Cross Foundation providing financial and institutional consultation and FSU providing staff, the Green Cross Project (GCP) formed its own organization and sought non-profit status through its new board of directors. ...
... The author began to discuss (with his University and its School of Social Work), the utility of transforming the Oklahoma training program of five courses into a world-class program. 12 In December, 1997 (as noted in Figley, 2003) the GCP's Registered Traumatologist certification program became the Florida State University Traumatology Institute's Traumatology Certification Program. 13 Courses were offered through the Traumatology (teaching) Institute starting in the spring of 1998. ...
Following a brief overview, this article describes the inception of the Green Cross Foundation, its history, and its programs as a way of illustrating how an institution developed in response to a set of vital needs. The Foundation emerged to provide financial and intellectual leadership in a new era of threat. To meet this threat, the Foundation established the Academy of Traumatology to identify the world leaders in the field and to establish the first set of Standards of Traumatology Practice. The Academy and the Foundation were instrumental in establishing a Traumatology Certification program that eventually led to the formation of a Commission to administer it. The article also addresses the future directions of the Foundation.
... There is growing evidence of researchers and organisations seeking to develop strategies of addressing issues of compassion fatigue, although attention has generally focused on other professions instead of psychotherapists (Dunkley & Whelan, 2006;Figley, 2003). Professionals providing care to vulnerable population need high levels of emotional intelligence to maintain personal vitality and professional functioning so as to deliver an effective and efficient service to clients. ...
... However, this discrepancy may not be surprising because the literature shows that empathy is a paradox. That is, despite it being an excellent resource for psychotherapists, it may be a major key factor in the transmission of traumatic material from the primary victim to a psychotherapist and thus makes one susceptible to compassion fatigue (Figley, 2003). Second, psychotherapists differ in level of resilience. ...
... There is growing evidence of researchers and organisations seeking to develop strategies of addressing issues of compassion fatigue, although attention has generally focused on other professions instead of psychotherapists (Dunkley & Whelan, 2006;Figley, 2003). Professionals providing care to vulnerable population need high levels of emotional intelligence to maintain personal vitality and professional functioning so as to deliver an effective and efficient service to clients. ...
... However, this discrepancy may not be surprising because the literature shows that empathy is a paradox. That is, despite it being an excellent resource for psychotherapists, it may be a major key factor in the transmission of traumatic material from the primary victim to a psychotherapist and thus makes one susceptible to compassion fatigue (Figley, 2003). Second, psychotherapists differ in level of resilience. ...
Globally, close to 50% of the professionals working with traumatised individuals have issues related to compassion fatigue. In Uganda, although compassion fatigue is prevalent among psychotherapists, there is limited evidence of relationship between emotional intelligence and compassion fatigue. This study set out to fill this gap. Data were collected from a random sample of 207 psychotherapists working in Northern Uganda, who completed Emotional Competency Inventory version-2.0 and Professional Quality of Life version-5 questionnaires. Chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests were used to analyse the data. Findings revealed that all the four elements of emotional intelligence (social awareness, self-awareness, self-management, and social skills) were inversely related to levels of compassion fatigue and were statistically significant at p < .0001. The study recommended that organisations offering psychotherapy services could focus on building emotional intelligence of their psychotherapists. Increasing emotional intelligence of psychotherapists is necessary to enable them deal more effectively, with their feelings and thus directly decrease the level of compassion fatigue thereby protecting their mental and physical health.
... Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people and injuring 680 others (Figley, 2003;Hollohan, 2008); and when Seung-Hui Cho massacred 32 people (and wounded 17 others) at Virginia Tech University in April 2007, before taking his own life (Hollohan, 2008). McVeigh and Nichols decried the role of government in people's lives, whereas Cho's rage was more intrapsychic 9 . ...
... Others have developed programs to train people to respond to such tragedies. Such an effort was reported by Figley (2003) after the Oklahoma City bombings. ...
This edited book explores the forms and places of violence in America. Forms of violence include gun violence, sexual violence, violence in the popular culture and violence in sports. The places of violence include the home, school, work and public sphere. Topics include domestic terrorism, The Oklahoma City bombing, rampage killings, the Virginia Tech Shooting, the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, hate crimes against sexual minorities, and the shooting at Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina. The concluding chapter offers potential solutions to the problems presented. The References are presented in the final 51 pages, and include hundreds of citations through 2016.
... Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, killing 168 people and injuring 680 others (Figley, 2003;Hollohan, 2008); and when Seung-Hui Cho massacred 32 people (and wounded 17 others) at Virginia Tech University in April 2007, before taking his own life (Hollohan, 2008). McVeigh and Nichols decried the role of government in people's lives, whereas Cho's rage was more intrapsychic 8 . ...
... Others have developed programs to train people to respond to such tragedies. Such an effort was reported by Figley (2003) after the Oklahoma City bombings. ...
This book explores violence in America, including: Gun Violence, Sexual Violence, Workplace Violence, Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, Domestic Terrorism, Sports Violence, Police Brutality, Rampage Killings and the War Against ISIL.
... However, researchers acknowledge the inadequate attention mental health practitioners have received in literature. Figley [23] indicated that mental health practitioners are vulnerable to compassion fatigue as a result of their jobs, yet limited studies can identify the elements that are associated with this job-related problem. Austin, Goble, Leier and Byrne [24] stress that existing research fails to fully explain the personal and professional factors that influence the development of compassion fatigue. ...
... Although the date of April 24, 1995, was set months earlier as the journal prepared to go online as one of the first of its kind, it happened to be 5 days after the bombing of the U.S. Federal Building in Oklahoma City. It was the same event that led to the creation of the Green Cross (Figley, 2003; because after a needs assessment many of us who studied disasters as trauma knew domestic terrorism was a game changer in our field and that we need to be better prepared to respond to such events with the best people and tools possible. It was with that spirit that the journal began (see Denny, 1995) and continues with the publication of this special issue. ...
Editorial note that discussed and placed into context the impact on NYU students, faculty, and administrators of the September 11, 2001 murders in the terrorist attacks on New York.
... Although the date of April 24, 1995, was set months earlier as the journal prepared to go online as one of the first of its kind, it happened to be 5 days after the bombing of the U.S. Federal Building in Oklahoma City. It was the same event that led to the creation of the Green Cross (Figley, 2003; because after a needs assessment many of us who studied disasters as trauma knew domestic terrorism was a game changer in our field and that we need to be better prepared to respond to such events with the best people and tools possible. It was with that spirit that the journal began (see Denny, 1995) and continues with the publication of this special issue. ...
This is my final issue as the editor of Traumatology. I will discuss this fact and my tenure as editor at the end of this editorial. As noted in the introduction to this special issue, it is the third in a series on campus trauma, beginning with Virginia Tech. The second special issue focused on New Orleans’s Tulane University. As with the previous two, the present issue provides a forum for members of the university community to discuss the trauma of 9/11 from both personal and professional perspectives. They have remarkable stories and insights. They are also inspiring. This special issue is full of excellent examples of leaders who outperformed expectations; the leaders coped with not only those testing moments but also well beyond 9/11 by the kind of values and ethics they were demonstrating. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)
... Although the date of April 24, 1995, was set months earlier as the journal prepared to go online as one of the first of its kind, it happened to be 5 days after the bombing of the U.S. Federal Building in Oklahoma City. It was the same event that led to the creation of the Green Cross (Figley, 2003; because after a needs assessment many of us who studied disasters as trauma knew domestic terrorism was a game changer in our field and that we need to be better prepared to respond to such events with the best people and tools possible. It was with that spirit that the journal began (see Denny, 1995) and continues with the publication of this special issue. ...
Provides an introduction to the articles appearing in the current issue of Traumatology (Vol 10[1]). The general focus of this issue is on the secondary impact of traumatic events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)
... The Foundation continued to offer the Journal free on line until 2001 when it was offered for subscription (free to Academy members) through the Internet portal, Extenza. For a complete history of the Foundation, the Academy, and its credentialing and humanitarian deployment activities see Figley (2003;. Starting with the next issue, readers will find a substantial improvement in the quality of the Journal in terms of its appearance, although the content will remain scholarly and influential in the growing field of traumatology. ...
This particular issue of Traumatology (Vol 12[1]) is historic because this is the first issue published since the Journal has been acquired by Sage Publications. Starting with the next issue, readers will find a substantial improvement in the quality of the Journal in terms of its appearance, although the content will remain scholarly and influential in the growing field of traumatology. The number of articles in each issue will be between 5-10 depending upon the length as well as the inclusion of other items such as book reviews. This issue includes, for example, five articles and two book reviews. The articles are organized in the traditional manner: Theory, research, and then treatment/applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)
PhD (Virginia), and; Charles R. Figley, PhD (Academy), Chair
- Mary Beth
Mary Beth Williams, PhD (Virginia), and; Charles R. Figley, PhD (Academy), Chair.