Unintentional Death Re-Visioning (UDRV) is an educationally based support process and not mental health treatment. As a UDRV provider, I draw upon more than three decades of experience as a state-licensed, nationally board-certified, and EMDR-certified therapist. I have focused broadly on trauma, and specialize in work with first responders (law enforcement, medics, dispatchers, etc.) following overwhelming duty-related trauma associated with critical incidents. In this context, I have developed, led, and trained trauma response and peer support teams.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes a critical incident as an event out of the range of normal experience — one which is sudden and unexpected, involves the perception of a threat to life, and can include elements of physical and emotional loss. Often such events are sufficiently disturbing and may overwhelm, or threaten to overwhelm, a person’s coping capacity.
To address the needs of citizen survivors and/or witnesses at a critical incident, including those who have unintentionally been the cause of a death, I have collaboratively developed and led community-based crisis teams that respond on-scene and in the hours and days following.
Recently I retired after thirty years at a university where, as a researcher, teaching professor, and technical assistance and development administrator, I worked collaboratively with families and professionals nationwide to address the needs of our nation’s (approximately 12,000) children and youth (birth-21) who are deaf-blind. I am fluent in American Sign Language and held Comprehensive Skills Certification (National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf) for many years as a sign language interpreter.
I recently wrote a timely and relevant article, Easing the Ache of Infecting Someone with COVID, to provide identified effective strategies that someone who is struggling with knowing or suspecting that they transmitted COVID-19 to someone else can practice.
Where can I find some ease within or around this experience — just as it is?