On September 12, 2015, just 35 miles northeast from my home, the Valley Fire began in Lake County; by evening it exploded to 10 thousand acres. The following morning I walked outside and smelled smoke. I checked online and discovered nearly the entire community of Middletown, California had been immolated while I slept. 

The fire grew to a massive 76 thousand acres throughout Lake, Napa, and Sonoma counties. The Redwood Empire CAMFT (RECAMFT) Chapter serves those counties along with Mendocino county. A massive crisis was looming, and RECAMFT had no plan in place for how to assist those traumatized by the fire. 

With some 40,000 California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), LMFTs represent the largest group of mental health providers in the state. Our training in family systems gives us a unique edge whether serving families, children, elders or first responders who have seen too much. LMFTs need to be networked into our local emergency response systems so when disaster strikes, we are prepared and trained to answer the call.  

Crisis response mental health interventions are different. First we assess the basics: shelter, food, first aid, water. Once we have people’s survival needs addressed, we provide psychological first aid – normalizing the experience of those suffering acute stress. After the crisis is over, some who suffer posttraumatic stress symptoms will seek us out for additional services. Reactions vary given the impact of the crisis (for example, losing a loved one or one’s home will likely be far more stressful than simply being displaced for a time). 

Our nation was shocked by the terrorist attack in San Bernardino on December 2, 2015. Inland Empire CAMFT Chapter was suddenly in the same place RECAMFT had been - a disaster unfolding with no chapter trauma response team. 

• CAMFT Chapters are in a unique position to lay the groundwork for a disaster mental health team in every county. Every CAMFT chapter can take a lesson from RECAMFT and IE-CAMFT and start a crisis response team now. My wish is for every LMFT to take at least one continuing education (CE) class in disaster mental health counseling in the coming months.
• RECAMFT worked quickly to provide services to the community, identifying those trained in crisis response, and ultimately creating a list of over 50 members willing to give 3-5 sessions of free counseling to anyone affected by the fire. Chapter member, Doreen Van Leeuwen, subsequently took on the task of organizing a chapter crisis response team. It starts with every willing LMFT joining the Red Cross, taking their disaster mental health courses, and FEMA’s free online classes. The chapter crisis response team will organize additional training, communication trees, and network with county agencies.
• Marin CAMFT has had a trauma response team for two decades. They have responded to traumatic deaths, child abductions, shootings, earthquakes, fires, and floods. The Marin trauma team chair, Jacque Ladrech, is a wealth of friendly information and advice.

CAMFT’s Crisis Response Education and Resource Committee (CRERC) provides outstanding resources on the CAMFT website, including links to pertinent trainings. The people on this committee are some of the top experts in the state. CAMFT’s Annual Conference will be an opportunity to get training in disaster mental health. After my initial shock about the smell of smoke, I found myself on the phone with people who knew exactly what to do, and gave great advice. It was a comforting feeling, in the face of a fire burning out of control.

Chris Hadfield said, “Ultimately, leadership is not about glorious crowning acts. It's about keeping your team focused on a goal and motivated to do their best to achieve it, especially when the stakes are high and the consequences really matter. It is about laying the groundwork for others' success, and then standing back and letting them shine.” 

The stakes have never been higher or mattered more. Together we can bring our talent and expertise to shine in our local communities when disaster strikes. 

Laura is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC 49174), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPC 149) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC 00113822).  She is in private practice in Santa Rosa and specializes in trauma utilizing Stanford cue-centered treatment along with transformational sandplay and EMDR.  She is a member of the Redwood Empire Chapter and is currently president of CAMFT.