How to work as an emergency psychologist?

Psychology applied to the field of mental health never approaches the well-being of people understanding it as something abstract, but always starts from a concrete context from which to intervene. In many cases, this context is that of a person who attends psychotherapy sessions as a patient, but this is not always the case.

For example, the work of emergency psychologists begins at a time when the person has not been for several days, weeks or even months thinking about the possibility of starting a therapy process to overcome a problem that has been affecting him for a long time weather; on the contrary, this type of specialist works just after crisis situations have occurred, disruptive experiences that have affected negatively to one or more people through a specific experience: the unexpected death of a family member, a traffic accident, a natural disaster, etc.

However… What exactly are the functions of the emergency psychologist and how to dedicate oneself to this professional field? Let's see it.

• Related article: "12 career opportunities in Psychology"

What does the work of emergency psychologists consist of?

This branch of psychology is designed for situations in which it is necessary to intervene quickly before crisis situations that have the potential to harm mental health in a relatively short period due to its disruptive nature. For example:

• Natural disasters
• Violent attacks in the context of a war
• evictions
• Kidnapping or robbery with violence
• Crisis in bankrupt organizations
• missing people
• suicide attempts
• violations
• Traffic accidents

Because of this, emergency psychology is closely linked to disorders associated with the phenomenon of trauma, which can appear in the face of very stressful experiences that affect the way in which the person integrates memory of what is happening, leading to consequences that can last for months or even years if they do not intervene psychologists.

Now, as we will see, emergency psychology is not limited to being strictly a type of trauma intervention just after the traumatic experience has occurred. Seen globally and in summary, the main functions of this type of professional are the following.

1. Urgent mental health support in isolated critical events

Support is offered to victims as quickly as possible, both to prevent the trauma from consolidating by affecting people's mental health in the long term, and to prevent people's behavior shocked or stunned generate dangerous situations for them or for others.

• You may be interested: "The 10 benefits of going to psychological therapy"

2. Urgent mental health support for chronic events

Although emergency psychology is crisis-oriented, some of these appear in the context of a chronic problem, such as psychotic disorders, addictions, homelessness, etc.

3. Attention and sensitivity towards cultural differences

The intervention and that of other mobilized professionals are advised and guided to avoid generating problems due to lack of information about the cultural background of the people being helped, something especially useful in contexts with high percentages of migrated people, in refugee crises, and in intervention in countries at war.

• Related article: "What is Cultural Psychology?"

4. Prevention and intervention in interveners

It also works taking into account the mental health of professionals who regularly work with victims of crisis, taking into account that the work carried out in this type of situation has a great capacity to generateburnout, second hand stress and other psychological disturbances.

How to become an emergency psychologist?

Developing professionally in the field of emergency psychology implies first completing a university degree in Psychology and, later, specializing in this field through a Master's degree.

If the fundamentals of behavioral science are learned in the Bachelor's or Bachelor's degree and the critical tools are acquired to distinguish between the methodologies scientifically validated and those that are not, in the subsequent specialization is when the theoretical-practical training necessary to work in crisis and emergency situations, provided that not only master classes are given, but also that a period of practice is attended with the assistance of experts in the field.

Notably not in all cases it is necessary to work in the clinical or health psychology field to specialize and exercise from the psychology of emergencies: these functions can also be carried out from NGOs, the security forces, social work, etc.

• Related article: "Why study Psychology? 10 points you should value"

Do you want to train to be an emergency psychologist?

If you are interested in specializing in this branch of applied psychology, the Master's degree in psychological intervention in crisis situations, catastrophes and emergencies that offers the European University is for you.

With a duration of one year and 60 ECTS credits, it is a training program that has a modality online and another face-to-face at the Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences (located in Villaviciosa de Odon). It offers the possibility of learning both the theory and the practice of psychology applied to cases of emergencies, from the hand of active professionals who combine the exercise of the profession with the teaching. In addition, it is the only master's degree in the market with internships at the UCI. Upon completion, students will receive a Degree issued by the European University of Madrid.

If you want more information about the Master in psychological intervention in crisis situations, catastrophes and emergencies, access this page of the European University.