Psychological First Aid

 

Immediate, practical and compassionate support following traumatic or highly distressing events

Psychological First Aid provides early emotional and practical support to people affected by accidents, workplace incidents, violence, sudden loss, disasters and other distressing events.

 

The aim is to help affected individuals feel safer, calmer, supported and connected with the resources they may need. Support can be provided at workplaces, organisations, community settings or other suitable locations.

On-site support in Johannesburg and surrounding areas. Assistance elsewhere may be arranged by agreement.

What is Psychological First Aid?

 

Psychological First Aid, commonly referred to as PFA, is an early supportive response offered to people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic, frightening or highly distressing event.

 

It focuses on people’s immediate emotional, physical and practical needs. This may include helping them feel safe, providing calm and non-intrusive emotional support, identifying urgent concerns, giving clear information and connecting them with family members, workplace resources, medical services or appropriate professional support.

PFA does not require people to describe the event in detail. Individuals are given the choice to speak if they wish, without being pressured to disclose personal information or relive what happened.

 

Psychological First Aid is not psychotherapy, psychological assessment or a formal treatment programme. It is an immediate or early intervention intended to reduce distress, support healthy coping and help identify people who may benefit from further assistance.

When may Psychological First Aid be helpful?

 

Psychological First Aid may be appropriate following events like:

 

• Workplace or industrial accidents
• Serious injuries or fatalities
• Robberies, assaults or other violent incidents
• Sudden or traumatic deaths
• Road and transport accidents
• Fires, explosions or structural incidents
• Natural disasters and community emergencies
• Exposure to disturbing scenes or information
• Threats to personal safety
• Incidents involving colleagues, clients or members of the public
• Other events that leave employees or community members distressed, shocked or overwhelmed

 

PFA can be offered soon after an incident, once the immediate environment has been made physically safe and urgent medical or emergency needs have been addressed.

Who is this service for?

 

Psychological First Aid can be arranged for:

 

• Businesses and employers
• Industrial and construction workplaces
• Security and emergency-response environments
• Schools, colleges and training organisations
• Community and non-profit organisations
• Residential complexes and community groups
• Employees exposed to traumatic events
• Managers responsible for supporting affected staff
• Individuals directly affected by a critical incident
• Witnesses, colleagues and others indirectly affected

 

The service can be adapted according to the nature of the incident, the number of people involved, the location and the immediate support needs.

What Psychological First Aid may include

 

Depending on the circumstances, Psychological First Aid may include:

 

Immediate needs assessment

Identifying who may need urgent support, who appears especially distressed and whether anyone requires medical, psychiatric, safeguarding or emergency intervention.

 

Calm and supportive contact

Approaching affected people respectfully, listening without judgement and helping them regain a sense of stability and control.

 

Practical assistance

Helping people identify their most immediate needs and consider manageable next steps. This may include contacting family, arranging transport, obtaining information or accessing workplace and community resources.

 

Information and psychoeducation

Providing clear information about common responses to traumatic events, healthy coping during the first few days and signs that further professional support may be needed.

 

Support for natural coping

Encouraging rest, connection with trusted people, manageable routines and appropriate self-care, without prescribing how an individual should feel or respond.

 

Referral and connection

Helping affected individuals connect with medical care, mental health services, trauma counselling, employee assistance programmes, community resources or other appropriate support.

 

Guidance for managers

Providing practical guidance to managers or team leaders on communicating with affected staff, responding sensitively and recognising employees who may need additional support.

The Psychological First Aid approach

 

My approach follows three widely recognised principles:

 

Look

The first step is to consider what has happened, whether the environment is safe, what immediate needs exist and whether anyone shows signs of severe distress or requires urgent intervention.

 

Listen

Affected people are approached calmly and respectfully. They may speak about their needs and concerns, but they are not pressured to describe the event or disclose more than they wish to share.

 

Link

People are helped to access practical information, social support, workplace resources, healthcare services and appropriate professional assistance.

 

The overall approach is calm, respectful, non-judgemental and responsive to the needs of each person.

What Psychological First Aid is not

 

It is important to distinguish Psychological First Aid from other forms of support.

 

Psychological First Aid is not:

 

• Emergency medical treatment
• A substitute for emergency services
• Psychotherapy or psychiatric care
• A psychological assessment or diagnosis
• An investigation into the incident
• An opportunity to determine fault or liability
• A compulsory group disclosure session
• A process in which people are pressured to recount the incident
• A guarantee that later trauma-related difficulties will be prevented
• A replacement for ongoing trauma counselling when this is needed

 

Participation should be voluntary wherever circumstances allow. Confidentiality will be respected within reasonable professional, safety and legal limits.

What happens when an organisation contacts me?

 

1. Initial consultation

I will speak with the responsible manager or organisational representative to obtain a concise overview of the incident, the number of people affected, the location, immediate safety considerations and the support already available.

 

2. Support plan and quotation

A suitable response will be discussed. This may involve individual support, small-group psychoeducation, guidance for managers, referral recommendations or a combination of these.

A written quotation can then be provided.

 

3. On-site support

Psychological First Aid is normally provided at the organisation’s premises or another suitable private location. A quiet, confidential and accessible space should be made available wherever possible.

 

4. Recommendations and referral

Where necessary, affected individuals may be encouraged to seek medical attention, trauma counselling, specialist mental health treatment or other appropriate assistance.

 

5. Follow-up support

A follow-up visit, individual session or short-term trauma recovery support may be recommended when appropriate. Any further services will be discussed separately.

Psychological First Aid for managers and supervisors

 

Managers often need to support employees while also dealing with operational demands, uncertainty and their own reactions to the incident.

 

Practical guidance can be provided on:

 

• Communicating sensitively with affected employees
• Sharing confirmed information without speculation
• Respecting privacy and different coping responses
• Recognising signs of serious or continuing distress
• Avoiding pressure to return immediately to normal performance
• Making reasonable short-term workplace adjustments
• Referring employees for additional support
• Managing follow-up communication after the incident

 

This guidance does not replace an organisation’s emergency response, occupational health, employee assistance, human resources or legal procedures. It complements these processes by addressing the immediate human impact of the event.

Psychological First Aid, Trauma Counselling and Trauma Recovery Coaching

 

These services address different stages and needs.

Service area and fees

 

Psychological First Aid is primarily an on-site service provided to organisations, workplaces and affected groups.

 

Fees are quoted according to:

 

• The location of the incident
• Travel distance and associated expenses
• The urgency and timing of the response
• The number of people requiring support
• The expected duration of the intervention
• Whether individual, group or management support is required
• Whether follow-up assistance is requested

 

A free initial telephonic consultation of up to 15 minutes is available to discuss the situation and determine whether Psychological First Aid is suitable.

About your Psychological First Aid provider

 

Koos Herselman

Trauma Counsellor and Personal Development Coach
BSc (Honours) Psychology with Counselling
Psychological First Aid Certificate
Advanced International Stress Consultancy Diploma
Qualified CBT Practitioner

 

I have worked in trauma support, stress management, counselling and personal development since 2006. My experience includes travelling throughout Southern Africa to provide support following industrial accidents and other distressing incidents.

 

My approach is calm, practical and respectful. I aim to help affected people regain a sense of safety and stability while ensuring that individuals requiring medical, psychiatric or specialised psychological care are referred appropriately.

 

I provide private, confidential and self-funded services and do not present myself as a psychologist, psychotherapist or HPCSA-registered counsellor. I do not diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medication or provide services that fall outside my professional scope.

Frequently asked questions

 

How soon should Psychological First Aid be arranged?

PFA is generally most relevant during the early period following a distressing event, once the location is safe and urgent medical and emergency needs have been addressed. The appropriate timing will depend on the nature of the incident and the people affected.

 

Must everyone participate?

Participation should normally be voluntary. People should not be pressured to discuss the incident or disclose personal reactions in front of others.

 

Is Psychological First Aid the same as trauma debriefing?

No. PFA focuses on immediate safety, practical needs, calm support, information and connection with resources. It does not require everyone to recount the event or describe their emotional reactions in a structured group session.

 

Can PFA prevent post-traumatic stress disorder?

Psychological First Aid cannot guarantee that a person will not develop continuing trauma-related difficulties. Its purpose is to provide appropriate early support, strengthen coping and identify people who may need additional help.

 

Will management receive details of private conversations?

Personal information shared during individual support will be treated confidentially within reasonable professional, safety and legal limits. Management may receive general recommendations or non-identifying observations, but private disclosures will not ordinarily be shared without permission.

 

Can follow-up counselling be arranged?

Yes. Individual trauma counselling or trauma recovery coaching may be arranged when appropriate. Referral to a psychologist, psychiatrist, medical practitioner or another specialised service may be recommended when the person’s needs fall outside my scope.

 

Can assistance be provided outside Johannesburg?

Yes, subject to availability and prior agreement. Travel time, transport, accommodation and related expenses may be included in the quotation.

Support your people after a distressing incident

 

A prompt, calm and appropriately structured response can help affected people feel supported, understand their immediate options and access further assistance when needed.

 

Contact me to discuss the incident, the people affected and the most appropriate form of support.

Please note: The services offered through this practice are not emergency or crisis services. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or unable to keep yourself or someone else safe, contact emergency services or go to the nearest hospital emergency department. In South Africa, you can also contact SADAG’s Suicide Crisis Line on 0800 567 567.