BRIEF HISTORY OF TSR

Following the issuance of an EI White Paper and the EI Boston Conference call in early 2018 for the design of an appropriate curriculum, GIST-T convened a workshop in December 2018 at which 25 participants from 13 countries contributed their expertise. Building on Psychological First Aid (PFA) the purpose was to design an innovative four-day curriculum to train frontline, non-therapist personnel to provide Traumatic Stress Relief (TSR) following natural disasters and violent conflicts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Experts Participating in Dec 2018

Lucina Artigas (Mexico)
Senior trainer and author on EMDR therapy; developer of EMDR in a group format and protocol for paraprofessionals.

Karin Augustat (Germany)
Anthropologist, trainer & coach Africa, Asia; researcher in culture-based trauma work for peacebuilding.

Barbara Bauer (USA)
Psychologist; developer and provider of culturally-sensitive training of lay volunteers to help trauma victims in Africa.

Clare Blenkinsop (UK)
Advocacy and communications for development; secretary of GIST-T.

Cécile Bizouerne (France)
Lead clinical psychologist at Action Contre la Faim (ACF); member of Interagency Working Group on Mental Health.

Raphaela Carriere (Netherlands)
Developmental psychologist & clinical trauma specialist; supports the emotional needs of gifted individuals.

Rolf Carriere (Netherlands)
Development economist; former UNICEF country director; board member Non-Violent Peaceforce; founder of GIST-T.

Louisa Chan-Boegli (Hong Kong/Switzerland) – Day 2 only
Medical doctor; capacity-building of national medical professionals in humanitarian work and peacebuilding.

Tim Dunne (Ireland)
Clinical & organizational psychologist; specialist in trauma treatment.

Shelly Evans (USA)
Professional counsellor & volunteer mental health trainer in Africa & Asia; researcher on refugee health.

Derek Farrell (UK)
Principal lecturer in psychology; psychotherapist; trauma capacity building in Asia; former vice-president EMDR-Europe.

Ignacio (Nacho) Jarero (Mexico)
Senior researcher and trainer of trainers in EMDR therapy worldwide; co-author of several EMDR protocols.

Lorraine Knibbs (UK)
Associate lecturer in EMDR therapy; President of EMDR-UK; board member Trauma Aid Europe.

Pamela Lupton-Bowers (UK)
Facilitator for many humanitarian organizations & events; founder & president International Association of Facilitators.

Sushma Mehrotra (India)
Clinical psychologist, Women’s University Mumbai; trainer in trauma recovery; former president EMDR-Asia.

Paul Miuller (UK)
Psychiatrist, EMDR practitioner and promoter; Visiting Professor at School of Nursing, Ulster University.

Sudha Nair (India)
Clinical psychologist; head of Staff Well-being at UNICEF; previously worked with UN Peacekeeping missions.

Ron Ockwell (UK)
Humanitarian programme planner/manager; editor of guidelines for emergency humanitarian operations.

Elan Shapiro (UK/Israel)
Psychologist; EMDR facilitation, research and protocol development.

Marlene Sinclair (Ireland)
Professor of midwifery research, University of Ulster; specialist in curriculum design.

Duda Suzic (Croatia)
Psychologist; Chief of Staff Welfare UNHCR; leader of UN Staff/Stress Counsellors Group.

Gail Womersley (UK/South Africa)
Clinical psychologist, therapist & researcher in Asia & Africa; specialist in trauma among victims of torture.

Eva Zimmermann (Switzerland) – Day 1 only
Specialist in psychotherapy and psychotraumatology; supported humanitarian emergencies in Africa, Asia.

After further consultation and elaboration, the training materials were tested with a few volunteers in June 2019. A refined package of Facilitators’ Notes, Power Point slides and Participants’ Guide was then prepared, and a first Training of Trainers (ToT) was held in August/September 2019. This ToT brought together experienced professional psychotherapist trainers from Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, France, India, Iraq, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, Uganda, UK and USA for a seven-day learning programme. Almost all had first-hand experience in crisis situations, and some were already experienced trainers. Several of them are now piloting the use of the TSR materials with organized frontline, para- and allied professionals in emergency and disaster situations. Rigorous evaluation and research are an integral part of the projects.

TSR Training Locations

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Bosnia
  • Brazil
  • Burkina Faso
  • DR Congo
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Uganda
  • USA (Vermont)

Existing translations of protocols and/or complete TSR curriculum

  • Arabic
  • Bosnian – all modules
  • Brazilian
  • French
  • Kinyarwanda
  • Kurmanji
  • Pashto
  • Swahili
  • Ukrainian – module 6 only

Types of para- and allied Professionals trained

  • Counsellors
  • Faith-based Counsellors
  • Junior Psychologists (not EMDR trained)
  • Medical Doctors
  • Midwives
  • MHPSS service delivery personnel
  • Mountain Technical Rescue personnel
  • Nurses
  • Police personnel
  • Psychosocial workers/assistants
  • Social Workers
  • Teachers
  • Yezidi Women (Harikara)