Public safety peers are trained in trauma response best practices and protocols that are congruent with organizational needs. Both individually and collectively, trained responders have proven to be valued organizational assets. For many organizations the deployment of peer supporters are emblematic of institutional efficacy, responsiveness, and caring.
The Halen Group first championed peer support versus peer counseling in the early 1980’s. The idea was to effectively deliver first line credible peer service to law enforcement by normalizing the range of potential responses to trauma exposure. This is accomplished through skill training in both instrumental (concrete tasks) as well as emotional assistance.
The two weeks of training (80 hours) focuses on well established principles of addressing reactive adaption of victims. Research supports the tenet that the “Golden hours” are critical to the neurobiological messages that are constructive in the wake of horrific circumstances. First responders practice and prepare for providing safety, calming, efficacy, connectiveness and hope.
The Halen Group associates bring significant operational experience as well as academic standing to this training with actual law enforcement intervention by its trainers. Trainers have played central roles in hostage management and peer response to shooting incidents along with their mental health practice backgrounds. The tools utilized by peer supporters are consistent with the framework for social and emotional intelligence.
Over thirty years of training substantiates the benefit of generalizing these behaviors to both home and the workplace. Many of our trained participants report the beneficial ways that their increased awareness made for better relationships at home and better managers at work.