Psychological First Aid is an immediate, short-term support given to people in crisis or after a traumatic event.

• It is like “emotional first aid”, just as we give physical first aid for injuries.
• It aims to reduce initial distress and help people feel safe, supported, and connected.
• PFA is not deep therapy but a compassionate response to stabilize someone.

Core actions of PFA:

• Ensure safety and comfort.
• Listen with empathy.
• Provide practical help and information.
• Connect people to social support and professional resources if needed.

Debriefing counselling is a structured conversation that takes place shortly after a traumatic or stressful event (like accidents, disasters, violence, or sudden death).

• Often done in groups, but can also be individual.
• It focuses on ventilation of emotions, normalizing reactions, and providing coping tools.
• It helps survivors process the event, share experiences, and reduce the risk of long-term trauma.

Main goals of debriefing counselling:

• Reduce feelings of isolation.
• Allow expression of thoughts and emotions.
• Identify stress reactions and provide reassurance.
• Guide survivors toward healthy coping strategies.

• PFA: Immediate, supportive, informal, given right at the crisis scene or soon after. It is immediate emotional first aid (comfort, safety, support).
• Debriefing: More structured, usually within days after the event, with guided reflection and coping strategies. This is a guided reflection (processing, coping, preventing long-term trauma).

• Unmanaged stress may lead to:
  • Withdrawal, hopelessness, or substance abuse.
  • Difficulty functioning at work, school, or in family life.
  • Anxiety, depression, or PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Someone needs PFA when they have just experienced a crisis or trauma and need immediate emotional support, safety, and connection before they can move on to longer-term healing. Other indicators that Psychological First Aid is required are:

Immediate Emotional Distress

• They are in shock, crying uncontrollably, panicking, or feeling numb.
• PFA helps calm them and provides emotional stability.

Exposure to Trauma

• After disasters (floods, fire, accidents, terrorist attacks).
• After witnessing or surviving violence, abuse, or sudden death.
• PFA helps reduce the risk of developing PTSD or complicated grief.

Feeling Unsafe or Overwhelmed

• A person may feel the world is no longer safe.
• PFA restores a sense of safety, comfort, and hope.
• Lack of Support System
• Some survivors may be alone or without family/friends nearby.
• PFA connects them to support and practical help.

Difficulty Coping

• When someone cannot function in the moment (can not eat, sleep, or think clearly).
• PFA gives grounding strategies and reassurance.
• Preventing Long-Term Psychological Harm
• If left unsupported, trauma can turn into anxiety, depression, or PTSD.
• PFA provides early intervention to reduce long-term impact.

After a traumatic experience, a person should ensure safety, allow emotions, seek support, practice self-care, stay connected, avoid harmful coping, and reach out for professional help if distress continues.

Ensure Safety First

• Move to a safe place if possible.
• Get medical attention if injured.
• Safety helps the brain begin calming down.

Allow Yourself to Feel

• Give yourself permission to grieve or express emotions.
• It is normal to feel fear, sadness, anger, or even numbness.
• Do not pressure yourself to “be strong” or “get over it quickly.”

Seek Support

• Being heard reduces feelings of isolation.
• If possible, connect with a counsellor or support group.
• Talk to someone you trust (family, friend, community leader).

Practice Self-Care

• Rest, eat balanced meals, and stay hydrated.
• Avoid alcohol or drugs; they may numb pain temporarily, but worsen it later.
• Try calming activities like breathing exercises, prayer/meditation, gentle walks, or journaling.

Stay Connected to Daily Life

• Stick to simple routines (eating, sleeping, hygiene).
• Small normal activities can bring a sense of control and stability.

Limit Overexposure to Triggers

• Protect your mind while you heal.
• Reduce repeated exposure to traumatic news, images, or conversations.

Seek Professional Help

• Seek psychological First Aid to normalize your emotions
• Create time for a debriefing session, receive a guided reflection, and acquire coping strategies
• Moving on to Trauma therapy/ counselling to obtain safe healing tools.
• If you feel hopeless, withdrawn, or think about harming yourself.
• If nightmares, flashbacks, panic, or sadness do not improve after weeks of trauma counselling, a referral to Psychiatry may happen.

• Reduces emotional suffering.
• Restores sense of safety and hope.
• Prevents long-term psychological harm.
• Strengthens resilience and coping skills.

• Provide calm presence and reassurance.
• Listen actively and normalize survivors’ reactions.
• Identify people needing further mental health care.
• Encourage support networks (family, friends, community).
• Teach stress management (breathing, grounding, relaxation).

Provides versatile counselling to our clients within the county and in the Global space at the Online/Virtual Center, which is open from 6.00 AM to Midnight every day of the week. This dynamic center allows our Global clients to equally access therapy services from their country of residence, and for the other clients that treasure privacy to equally access therapy on or out of camera. However, for those around Nairobi, the Capital City of Kenya, we have a Physical Office for you in Nairobi, Upper Hill- Kenya Medical Association (KAM) Center. The Physical Center is open from 7.00 AM to 7.00 PM to accommodate those of you who are working.

The cost for virtual and physical therapy is the same, and our client can interchange the model without any penalty. The therapy session can be One-on-One, Joint/Couple, or Group therapy. We are a prepaid honest center, and once payment is made, it is reserved for a therapy session. It does not matter how long the client takes to be available; you cannot lose your money while in our system. Please take time and read our terms and conditions, to understand important parameters like session cancellation is done within 24 hours, and once payment is made for a therapy session, it cannot be refunded, but should be used for a therapy session only.

We have professional counsellors trained and licensed to provide all forms of therapy, but with expertise in stress management therapy. With their support, you will learn your triggers to stress, ways of managing the stress, and skills to manage frustration and coping mechanisms. Your therapist will provide a safe space to catharsis (vent out); help you to develop coping strategies, reshape your thinking patterns, improve your relationship, performance and address the issue at hand better. Book a therapy session and find a mental wellness support and personal therapist to walk and guide you to manage that stress, which is interfering with your life. Do not share your story in the wrong places and with the wrong people; they do not care about you. Come and Share with a Counsellor at our Center, At Share We Care. Come and Share with a Counsellor at our Center, At Share We Care.

You can use Call, SMS, or WhatsApp, using any of the two official lines provided below at the contact us. In case you miss us using one medium, especially the call, use SMS or WhatsApp Chat, and we will promptly respond. You can access our services through our official email, and the administrator will escalate your request to the client manager for action.