Five team techniques for coping with traumatic events
The fire service’s early efforts to manage the effects of stressful events on the job paved the way for much of the research and information that’s now available regarding occupational exposure to traumatic events.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing became a social movement in emergency services and quickly grew footholds in other areas as well. Early articles and workshops promoted debriefing and related interventions as a powerful preventative for post traumatic stress disorder and similar negative outcomes.
Critical Incident Stress Management seemed an easily doable, inherently logical approach to helping firefighters and other emergency service personall with occupational stress. It was consistent with ideas about dealing with traumatic events accepted at that time. Many firefighters reported that having an opportunity to talk about how they felt seemed helpful.
See Five team techniques for coping with traumatic events, by Richard Gist, Ph.D.
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Emotional Continuity Management, pioneered by Vali Hawkins Mitchell, Ph.D. LMHC, is a valuable tool in the face of workplace disruption. Vali is the author of Emotional Crises in the Workplace: Protecting Your Business’ Bottom Line – Emotional Continuity Management in the Workplace.
Tags: CISD, CISR, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Critical Incident Stress Response, trauma
