Disaster Mental Health: Theory and Practice (Crisis Intervention)

Drs. James Halpern and Mary Tramontin each possess a range of experiences in many professional worlds: academia, private practice, public service, crisis counseling, forensic psychology, research, writing, consulting, collaborating with the media, and teaching disaster mental health. Together, Mary and James were part of the Disaster Mental Health Services Function of the American Red Cross Chapter in New York City. As such they were among the very first mental health professionals notified when a disaster requiring mental health intervention occurred. They have both participated in multiple disasters of different scope, intensity, magnitude and meaning. They have been in the unique position to bear witness to the effects of cataclysmic moments on those involved, and have been present to help, and shape, the healing process. Mary has been a Disaster Mental Health practitioner since its inception in the early nineties. She organized the first state wide training in Disaster Mental Health in Pennsylvania and currently continues to serve on the Leadership Committee of the Disaster Mental Health Services function in New York City. James is currently the Chair of the Disaster Mental Health Services Function of Ulster County, New York. He has responded to large scale national disasters in different parts of the country. Both Mary and James were among the first mental health professionals to offer mental health support on September 11th, 2001. James founded and serves as the Director of the Institute for Disaster Mental Health at the State University of New York at New Paltz.