William J. Feister, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist based in San Francisco, will lead an interactive presentation for the San Bruno community on coping with trauma in general and in the context of the explosion and fire. He will cover the definition of trauma, the range of responses to experiencing a trauma, factors contributing to degrees of reaction to trauma, and helpful and unhelpful ways of coping with a traumatic event. There will be an opportunity for attendees to share individual experiences, reactions, and coping skills.
Dr. Feister has been in private practice since 1985. Currently, his private practice consists primarily of responding to crisis situations at various organizations, as well as consulting to police and fire departments in the Bay Area. He was the Disaster Mental Health Services Chairman at the Alameda County Red Cross during the Oakland Hills Fire. He also provided crisis intervention services to the Immigration and Naturalization Service in New York City following 9/11.