Abstract

Disaster and emergency situations continue to pose significant threats to health systems globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria, where institutional preparedness, psychological readiness, and response coordination remain limited. This paper examines disaster and emergency preparedness among counsellor educators, with emphasis on psychological readiness and intervention strategies. The study adopts a systematic literature review methodology, drawing on recent scholarly works (2021–2026) sourced from Scopus-indexed databases, PubMed, Google Scholar, and African journals. Findings reveal that counsellor educators play critical roles in disaster preparedness through psychological first aid, crisis communication, trauma-informed interventions, emotional regulation training, and resilience-building among both healthcare workers and affected populations. Psychological frameworks such as Cognitive Behavioural Theory, Humanistic Theory, and Psychological Crisis Intervention Models were found to enhance coping mechanisms, decisionmaking under pressure, and emotional stability during emergencies. In the Nigerian context, weak emergency infrastructure, limited psychological training, and high levels of trauma exposure remain major barriers to effective disaster response. However, counsellor educators are strategically positioned to improve preparedness through training, advocacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The study concludes that integrating psychological readiness into disaster preparedness systems significantly enhances response effectiveness, reduces trauma impact, and improves recovery outcomes. It recommends the institutionalization of psychological emergency training, curriculum reforms for counsellor educators, government investment in disaster mental health systems, and continuous professional development programs. Overall, the paper highlights psychological preparedness as a vital component of effective disaster and emergency management in Nigeria and similar contexts