Although there are a few different natural disasters in Arizona one that I
know has affected Tucson is excessive heat. Excessive heat is a huge
problem in the Pima county area due to it causing wildfires and death from
heat exposure. "Heat illness can escalate from cramps to heatstroke within
hours, and heatstroke is fatal without rapid cooling (Scienceinsights,
2026)." In Tucson temperatures could reach up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit
to 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the peak of summer. People that work
outdoors, play sports, and a lot of the homeless population are affected by
excessive heat.
Excessive heat could trigger stress, irritability, sleep disturbance, agitation,
lack of motivation, and decreased mood and enjoyment, and sometimes
cognitive concerns (Cresci, 2024). With this being said the most appropriate
treatment model would be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Using a
CBT approach the counselor and client would be focusing on identifying and
challenging distorted or unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with
appropriate thoughts; ex: When a client is thinking " I cannot deal with this
heat any longer" they begin to think " I can deal with the heat for 10
minutes and then get a drink of water or take a five minute break in the cool
air before getting back to work in the heat." Using CBT techniques like
using different coping strategies like cooling techniques, scheduling breaks,
and limiting the time that they are outdoors during the part of the day that
has extreme heat conditions (Blueprints, 2025).
During excessive heat disasters it is important that confidentiality, informed
consent, dual relationships, environmental and cultural sensitivity, and
safety are at the top of our ethical considerations. When working with
individuals in any natural disaster safety is the number one priority and
making sure to explain confidentiality and informed consent to the client
will ensure that they understand that what they share during this initial
session will stay between you as their counselor and them unless self-harm
or harm of others is something that is addressed during this session. It is
also very important when working with-in your own community to watch for
dual relationships and practicing self-awareness to prevent any misconduct
of ethics.
know has affected Tucson is excessive heat. Excessive heat is a huge
problem in the Pima county area due to it causing wildfires and death from
heat exposure. "Heat illness can escalate from cramps to heatstroke within
hours, and heatstroke is fatal without rapid cooling (Scienceinsights,
2026)." In Tucson temperatures could reach up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit
to 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the peak of summer. People that work
outdoors, play sports, and a lot of the homeless population are affected by
excessive heat.
Excessive heat could trigger stress, irritability, sleep disturbance, agitation,
lack of motivation, and decreased mood and enjoyment, and sometimes
cognitive concerns (Cresci, 2024). With this being said the most appropriate
treatment model would be Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Using a
CBT approach the counselor and client would be focusing on identifying and
challenging distorted or unhelpful thoughts and replacing them with
appropriate thoughts; ex: When a client is thinking " I cannot deal with this
heat any longer" they begin to think " I can deal with the heat for 10
minutes and then get a drink of water or take a five minute break in the cool
air before getting back to work in the heat." Using CBT techniques like
using different coping strategies like cooling techniques, scheduling breaks,
and limiting the time that they are outdoors during the part of the day that
has extreme heat conditions (Blueprints, 2025).
During excessive heat disasters it is important that confidentiality, informed
consent, dual relationships, environmental and cultural sensitivity, and
safety are at the top of our ethical considerations. When working with
individuals in any natural disaster safety is the number one priority and
making sure to explain confidentiality and informed consent to the client
will ensure that they understand that what they share during this initial
session will stay between you as their counselor and them unless self-harm
or harm of others is something that is addressed during this session. It is
also very important when working with-in your own community to watch for
dual relationships and practicing self-awareness to prevent any misconduct
of ethics.
