USE OF PARAPROFESSIONALS AND SIMPLIFIED PROTOCOLS

Review Conference on the State of the Art

The future of accelerated, large-scale trauma healing depends on the greater acceptance and use of paraprofessionals and simplified protocols. For that reason, GIST-T is keen to promote applied research into the use of paraprofessionals and simplified protocols within the context of specific field projects. Innovations based on CBT-TF and EMDR are ongoing and include group therapies, and early interventions aimed at preventing PTSD. Their wider use, however, is conditional upon satisfactory research evidence of effectiveness and appropriateness.

GIST-T is aware of promising recent developments as reported by Drs. ‘Nacho’ Jarero, Elan Shapiro and others. Further studies are ongoing. GIST-T, in cooperation with EMDR Advanced Training and Distance Learning (ATDL), is working to convene a Conference on Early EMDR-based Interventions, including the role of paraprofessionals, bringing together the principal researchers, mental health leadership, and other stakeholders. The aim is to curate the field-based results so far, provide training to professionals, encourage further research, and offer policy guidance. The Summit Conference, to be held in Boston in April 2018, will also be open as an educational event for therapists/practitioners with an interest in these field innovations. Meanwhile, GIST-T (in dialogue with Derek Farrell and Mark Nickerson) will advocate and pursue possibilities for applications in project settings with adequate evaluative research components.