Letter from the Editor…
By Mike Sehl, Toronto Fire Fighter, Station 143-A
You’re a “First Supporter” What is a first supporter? We know we have a vital lifesaving role as first responders, but do we realize how vital we also are as first supporters? At any moment, at home, in the fire hall, or at an emergency scene, we may find ourselves offering support and assistance. Whether you are in the role of “professional responder” or simply the person who happens to be there when someone is in need, we’re all “first supporters.” No doubt you know what to do when you arrive on scene of a motor vehicle collision or a house fire, but do you feel as confident about what to say and do when you find yourself beside someone in need of emotional and psychological support? What are some tools in our toolbox, as we are undoubtedly supporting each other, our families, and the public during this challenging time? To answer this question, I looked to our Peer Support Team training for some guiding principles. Excellent tools are Motivational Interviewing (MI for short) and how to effectively respond to “invitations” and build a supportive connection with another.
Motivational Interviewing: Motivational Interviewing is essentially a way of building a relationship with the person you are supporting, so that they want to work with you to drive themselves forward in a positive direction. Don’t let the word “interviewing” mislead you –
TORONTO FIRE SERVICES EAP/CIS NEWSLETTER
it’s not about searching for answers and information, but more about opening dialogue. It is a “collaborative, person-centred and goal-oriented counselling method that aims to strengthen the client’s motivation toward healthy behaviour change” (Miller and Rollnick). It is proven to be effective with most people, in a variety of situations, and can be especially helpful for individuals who are dealing with multiple challenges and/or who are ambivalent about change. Some of the guiding principles of MI, or the “MI spirit” as they call it, are: 1. Partnership - collaboration instead of confrontation 2. Acceptance - autonomy over authority 3. Compassion - understanding vs. prescribing 4. Evocation - evocation rather than education Through the “MI Spirit”, you are focusing on the person you are supporting, first and foremost. The individual must feel listened to, understood, accepted, and respected for who they are and where they are. In this way, they can feel empowered, and understand that they are integral to guiding their own change and recovery. This helps clients feel more like a person than a client being served out of obligation. It helps them to actually follow up and follow through on treatments and goals, because they have ownership over the plan and feel supported rather than directed. So, how can you use this knowledge of MI? Here are three specific guidelines you can use in making connections with those around you who could use some “first support.”
VOLUME 15 | ISSUE 4 | FIRE WATCH
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