Counseling Psychology and Large-Scale Disasters

Abstract

Juntunen and Parham each reacted positively with important personal reflections and/or calls to action in response to “Counseling Psychology and Large-Scale Disasters, Catastrophes, and Traumas: Opportunities for Growth.” We comment on the primary themes and suggestions they raised. Since the time we were stimulated by Katrina and its aftermath and the Indian Ocean tsunami to conceptualize and bring to fruition this major contribution, large-scale disasters seemed to be happening everywhere (even to some of us personally or as responders). This underscores the need Juntunen highlighted to examine our motivations, self-care, privilege, and the long-term impact of disasters and disaster response work. Also, we agree with Parham that it makes palpable the need for counseling psychology to move beyond compassion and action by a relative few to act now, respond to, and engage in systematic action and research on large-scale disasters, through a bioecological and social justice approach.