Training in psychological first aid
January 31, 2024
By Anne MacLaurin
A unique practicum in UVic’s Department of Psychology, connects psychology students with a community learning program (CLP) offered by the Victoria Native Friendship Centre. UVic psychology assistant professor, Natasha Wawrykow explains how her graduate course, PSYC 501, gives students an opportunity to learn about the legacy of residential schools, alongside those taking CLP, while offering Psychological first aid.
Psychological first aid is a method that addresses the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others with an emphasis on self-care and personal protection.
“The Community Learning Program (CLP) is a holistic learning experience that teaches participants to learn with Indigenous people in an experiential and collaborative manner,” says Wawrykow. “The curriculum discusses critical documents, and assists participants in drawing understanding how colonization affected Indigenous Peoples experience at the personal, family, and community level historically and in contemporary life.”
Due to the emotional impact associated with learning about cultural genocide and forced assimilation, the Victoria Native Friendship Centre collaborated with Wawrykow who taught her graduate students how to provide emotional support to participants.
“The Community Learning Program (CLP) addresses trauma and potentially triggering subject matter (e.g., different forms of abuse that students experienced in residential school), our psychology grad students attend and provide Psychological First Aid when participants need mental health support,” says Wawrykow.
The upper level graduate course, “Psychological First Aid Indigenous Community Practicum,” involves learning Psychological First Aid skills and, as an applied course, the maximum registration is six students per term.
“This learning opportunity provides participants, as well as our students, an opportunity to respond to several of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action and remediate the legacy of Canadian residential school,” says Wawrykow.
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