Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP)

Early support for first responders following traumatic events

First responders are repeatedly exposed to stressful and potentially traumatic events. While many people experience acute stress reactions after an incident, early support can help individuals understand what they are experiencing, strengthen self-regulation, and identify when additional support may be needed.

The Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol (ASAP) is an early intervention and peer-support protocol developed specifically for first responders experiencing symptoms of acute stress. ASAP is rooted in principles of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and the Adaptive Information Processing (AIP) model, and is designed to provide a structured, practical approach to addressing traumatic stress.

How ASAP works

ASAP uses a structured eight-step worksheet and can be delivered in peer-to-peer, individual, or group settings. The protocol is designed so that participants do not need to provide detailed verbal accounts of the traumatic event.

The intervention includes two primary phases:

Phase One: Stabilization & Resource Building

Participants are introduced to mindfulness, self-regulation, and resource-building strategies designed to support emotional regulation following a stressful event. This phase can also help identify individuals who may be experiencing more severe traumatic stress and who may benefit from additional professional resources.

Phase Two: Processing Traumatic Stress

The second phase incorporates bilateral stimulation and guided processing based on principles underlying EMDR therapy. Participants work with their own traumatic material in a structured setting without being required to verbally describe the event to the group.

Why ASAP is particularly suited to first responders

ASAP was developed with the realities of first-responder work in mind. The protocol:

• Can be used following a variety of stressful or traumatic events, including repeatedly over the course of a responder's career.
• Can be delivered individually or with groups.
• Does not require participants to disclose traumatic details publicly.
• Can be facilitated peer-to-peer within appropriately trained teams.
• Provides a structured framework for stabilization and self-regulation.
• Includes a screening component to help identify individuals who may require additional professional support.
• Can be introduced relatively soon following a traumatic incident, including following an officer-involved shooting.
• Does not require participants within a group to have experienced identical events

ASAP at TheraRidge

At TheraRidge, we recognize that first responders often need support that understands the culture, demands, and realities of operational work.

ASAP can be incorporated into a broader continuum of support that includes peer support, early intervention, clinical assessment, and evidence-based psychotherapy. When a responder's needs extend beyond an early intervention protocol, appropriate referral to a regulated mental health professional is an important part of the process.

Our goal is not simply to help people get through the next incident. It is to create opportunities for early support, effective intervention, and a clear pathway to further care when it is needed.

Early support matters. Knowing when to step in matters. And knowing when someone needs more than peer support matters, too.