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The New Social Worker is the quarterly magazine for social work students and recent graduates, focusing on social work careers for those new to the profession. This blog is a companion to the free online magazine at http://www.socialworker.com.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Where were you when the twin towers fell?

I WAS DRIVING TO THE NEWSPAPER office where I worked when I heard a radio station broadcasting the first reactions to what was going on that day. I remember when I walked into the building, I started talking about it, and most people hadn't yet heard. I pulled a friend aside and said, "Cesar, let's go up to the newsroom and look at the TV monitors." Eyes glued to the tube, we watched in disbelief as the events unfolded. It was surreal then and, some days, I still find it hard to fathom that it really happened.

In my Crisis Management class I am memorizing Roberts 7 Stage Crisis Intervention Model. I know it will be on the exam so I am breaking it down. I imagine a firefighter or other first responder as they may have walked into a therapist's office for the first time to ask for help.

1. Plan and conduct a biopsychosocial and crisis assessment including a lethality assessment.
2. Establish rapport and rapidly establish collaboration.
3. Identify major problems.
4. Deal with feelings and provide support.
5. Evaluate alternate solutions.
6. Assist with action plan.
7. Follow up.

As I close my eyes on this day, the anniversary of what the world refers to as 9-11, I send out love and prayers to all those who lost loved ones. I cannot imagine your pain. May you find continued support and healing all the days of your lives.

~Ms. T. J.
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Posted by Southern Social Worker at 11:16 PM
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2 comments:

  1. Well, at first I was in bed listening to the news (I'm in Mountain Time Zone). I thought it was strange, but maybe it was really foggy in New York. Then I heard a second one and I thought that was pushing coincidence a little far. Then the news (on the way to work by this time) started talking about terrorism. Once at work (in a hospital) every tv was tuned to CNN. We watched, mostly as a group, trying to come to grips with what was happening. In our group were two other social workers that had family in New York (including in the Towers themselves). Fortunately, as it turned out, this relative was away from the office that day, at an off-site meeting. We lost no one, but....

    (and a brief aside, I'm training for a volunteer position at our local help phone line -- the Distress Centre of Calgary -- and they focus on Roberts' model of crisis intervention as well.)
    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, at first I was in bed listening to the news (I'm in Mountain Time Zone). I thought it was strange, but maybe it was really foggy in New York. Then I heard a second one and I thought that was pushing coincidence a little far. Then the news (on the way to work by this time) started talking about terrorism. Once at work (in a hospital) every tv was tuned to CNN. We watched, mostly as a group, trying to come to grips with what was happening. In our group were two other social workers that had family in New York (including in the Towers themselves). Fortunately, as it turned out, this relative was away from the office that day, at an off-site meeting. We lost no one, but....

    (and a brief aside, I'm training for a volunteer position at our local help phone line -- the Distress Centre of Calgary -- and they focus on Roberts' model of crisis intervention as well.)
    ReplyDelete

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