What psychological first aid is and is not

The most common mistake in psychological support is the well-intentioned attempt with a harmful method — pressuring the person to "talk" before they are ready.

Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a set of practical responses offered to people who have experienced a traumatic event in the acute crisis phase — the first hours and days. The goal is not to "heal" the person or diagnose them, but to reduce acute distress and strengthen the capacity for natural adaptation. What it is not: it is not psychological therapy, counselling, or forcing the person to relive the incident. A harmful response forces discussion of the trauma before the person is ready, or makes promises that cannot be kept.

• Safety: secure the place and remove immediate distress triggers as much as possible
• Calm: be calm yourself — your calm is a positive contagion for the affected person
• Connection: be present beside the person without pressure to speak
• Self-efficacy: help the person regain a sense of control over something small
• Social connection: facilitate their contact with family or their support network

The difference between psychological support and psychological therapy is not just technical — it is the dividing line that protects both volunteer and beneficiary. Psychological first aid is provided from one person to another at the acute moment, with the goal of reducing temporary distress and strengthening the natural capacity for adaptation. Psychological therapy, by contrast, is provided by a licensed specialist, and involves diagnosing psychological disorders, treating the roots of trauma, and applying specific therapeutic protocols such as cognitive-behavioural therapy. What the volunteer must never do within the PFA framework: First — no diagnosis: do not tell anyone "you have post-traumatic stress disorder" or any other diagnostic term. Diagnosis is the right of the licensed specialist alone, and labelling without expertise causes harm even when it is accurate. Second — no forced trauma re-evocation: do not ask the person to retell the details of what happened to "release" what they carry — some trauma re-evocation methods without specialist training deepen the wound rather than ease it. Third — no false promises: avoid phrases like "you will recover soon" or "time heals everything" — these are promises beyond what you can guarantee, and when they do not materialise they break the trust you built. Fourth — no extended introspection sessions: sessions targeting interpretation of deep emotions and uncovering psychological layers exceed PFA scope and may open doors you have no tools to safely close. Awareness of these boundaries does not diminish your role — it defines it precisely and makes your support safer and more genuinely impactful.

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