PsychArmor

Patricia Watson, Ph.D. is a senior educational specialist for the National Center for PTSD, and former assistant director of terrorism and disaster programs for the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress and assistant professor of psychiatry at Dartmouth Medical School. Prior to joining the National Center for PTSD in 1998, she was an active duty Navy psychologist for eight years, working with adults for four years, and children and families for four years. She has collaborated with federal working groups to create publications for public and mental health interventions following terrorism, disaster, and pandemic flu. In collaboration with authors from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and National Center for PTSD, she has co-authored the Psychological First Aid (PFA) Field Guide and the Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Manual. In collaboration with authors from the Department of Defense and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, she has co-authored the Combat Operational Stress First Aid (COSFA) Field Guide, and Curbside Manner and Stress First Aid for Firefighters and Emergency Services Personnel, as well as creating versions for law enforcement professionals and rail workers. She has co-edited three books on disaster behavioral health interventions, and numerous articles, guidance documents, and chapters on disaster mental health, combat and operational stress, early intervention, and resilience.