Robert Douglas and Associates adds the RALLI Group to its list of EAP CIR Multi-Systemic Resiliency Approach interventions.
Background
The RALLI system was first introduced in 2015 as an evidence based, peer support process developed for EAPs to support workplace populations facing a high degree of trauma related material (hospitals, police, emergency, etc.). RALLI combines elements of the Multi-Systemic Resiliency Approach, Psychological First Aid, and Mental Health First Aid into a comprehensive, early crisis intervention approach used in partnership with EAP client organizations. Developed by RDA, this approach is licensed for use by EAPs in a train-the-trainer format giving them the tools to meet the request of their client organizations to create and deliver peer teams.
Essential Workers
The concept of "essential workers" is not new, but as a result of addressing COVID-19, its definition has been expanded beyond the first-responder population to any workforce needed to sustain daily living operations. These are groups of individuals who are now tasked with facing risk to their lives and the lives of others, or, in many cases, face issues of poverty by losing their job. However, unlike first responders, they did not "sign up" for this new work criteria. They may have no interest in, nor were they trained in, emergency response or mission oriented work. The psychology and mental preparedness of the first responder is not the same as other workforces. As a result, the essential worker is now put in a similar position, only more vulnerable to the distress and potential traumatic experience. How do we attend to this group?
RALLI Group
The RALLI group process is the right intervention for EAP professionals to deliver to this population. RALLI stands for:
R ecognize and Respond
A wareness of risk
L isten nonjudgmental
L earn sources of resilience
I dentify next steps
RALLI represents the core crisis intervention skills taught to peer teams and used together with EAP CIR. By integrating these core skills, a RALLI Group process aims to:
Increase access to Eustress by teaching distress mitigation techniques
Foster group cohesiveness and bonding
Marshal strategic group attributes for increased resilience
Help group stay engaged with work vs. disengaged
The goal of a RALLI group is to take a more loosely banded, homogeneous (same work, potential same exposure) group of individuals and create a forum where catharsis, validation, normalization and universality can be expressed confidentially. While similar to a PFA Group, an important distinction is in engagement. A RALLI group energizes the group to stay engaged in their tasks while a PFA group moves a group to disengage from the exposure of their experience to more safety creating measures and reengage further down the line. In addition, education on mindfulness and breathing techniques offer successful, in the moment, coping techniques to manage distress.
These shared experiences and reactions when reframed into resilient attributes (mission, values, sense of duty) create a powerful bonding experience. The we are all in this together experience. This is were we want our group to get to.
When running any group process in EAP CIR, there are dos and don'ts. This is a voluntary group, and the group leader must be aware, and ready to respond to, the signs of a reactivated stress response and risk for re-traumatization.
The RALLI Group is but one intervention. It is not meant to be a stand-alone intervention, but rather used within the comprehensive EAP CIR Multi-Systemic Resiliency Approach.
For the complete training, register for the 2020 On-Demand EAP MSRA Training.