What Is Psychological Debriefing?
Out of several debriefing models, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is the best known and most widely used. It is designed to prevent or alleviate the traumatic consequences of abnormal events. It was developed to help workers in the emergency services, although versions have been used to help victims, and other survivors, including children. Three principles of Proximity (reach them at the disaster site), Immediacy (as soon as possible) and Expectancy (with the aim of returning them to their daily routine in a better psychological state) characterise CISD. It teaches more constructive ways of dealing with loss, based on grief counselling, and uses therapies to minimise the avoidance symptoms of post-traumatic stress, focusing on the mind-body relationship to show how an event can influence the individual’s physical reactions. The object is to obtain cathartic relief within a structured environment, that is, the counsellor-led group. Good leadership skills and an understanding
