Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling Program

The state’s Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) is recognized for its delivery of crisis counseling and stress management services that have supported Louisiana residents since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The program’s model offers a non-clinical approach utilizing program staff who conduct outreach services that target populations most vulnerable to the effects of disaster-related (weather and pandemic) incidents. Louisiana Spirit assists individuals in understanding their disaster-related situation and reactions, mitigating stress, reviewing their disaster recovery options, and providing general information on resources and other supports. The program encourages linkage with other agencies to assist individuals in their recovery process. Louisiana Spirit employs a diverse workforce of social services, first responders, clinicians, and staff who are knowledgeable about the local communities we serve.

Crisis counseling programs typically have been operated during a presidentially declared disaster under the oversight of the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health (LDH/OBH), funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Since September 22, 2024 the Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling Program has been activated in response to the impact Hurricane Francine.  CCP services are available to survivors residing within the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, Lafourche, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, and Terrebonne.  Another small scaled CCP is also operating to delivery services to other parishes of the state through a collaboration with the Office of Public Health’s Bureau of Community Preparedness. Funding is provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Workforce Infrastructure Grant. 

 

Mission and Purpose

Our mission is to assist individuals and communities in recovering from the effects of disasters and pandemics through free community-based outreach and psycho-educational services. 

• Through short-term interventions, crisis counselors provide: 
  • Crisis counseling
  • Public education about mental health challenges and positive coping strategies
  • Stress management services to assist children, families, elders, first responders, small businesses, rural populations, and other special populations

Services

• Individual and group crisis counseling
• Basic supportive or educational contact
• Community networking
• Assessments, referrals, and resources
• Development and distribution of educational materials
• Media and public service announcements

Louisiana Spirit CCP Benefits

Louisiana Spirit supports short-term interventions with the following goals:

• Helping understand the current situations and reactions.
• Reducing stress and providing emotional support.
• Promoting self-reliance by teaching goal setting, resilience building, and positive coping skills.

Training Resources

• Psychological First Aid Training- May 12-14,2025, Sulphur, LA
• Psychological First Aid Training- May 23, 2025, Monroe, LA
• ASIST Training in Shreveport May 28-29,2025
• Psychological First Aid Training- June 10, 2025, Shreveport, LA
• Psychological First Aid Training- June 17, 2025, Slidell,  LA
• Psychological First Aid Training- June 18, 2025, Monroe, LA

 

Psycho-Educational Presentations Offered

• Building Resiliency
• Managing Stress and Anxiety
• Grief and Loss
• Compassion Fatigue
• Managing Aggressive Feelings
• Work-Life Balance
• Complex Trauma
• Helping Families, Children, and Adolescents Cope with Trauma

Additional Resources

Louisiana 988 Helpline

• Call or text 988
• Chat at Louisiana988.org