The primary purpose of CISD (Critical Incident Stress Debriefing), is to provide brief assistance to persons who have been subject to a Critical Stress Incident or Traumatic Event. A Critical/Traumatic Incident is an event that produces trauma in the individual. While experiencing trauma, fear, and panic, which can have a wear and tear affect on the human body. Many people feel that expressing emotions or feelings is a sign of weakness and so they repress such feelings. This can have a detrimental effect on the mental well being of the person. People, who experience Critical Incident Stress, need to be debriefed. Failure to do so can result in mild to serious depression, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and in many cases suicidal tendencies.
That is where CISD comes in. The CISD Team/Debriefer wants to try to eliminate the physiological and psychological symptoms of trauma. The earlier the treatment, the greater chance of success. Many can be debriefed by a CISD Team member and not require any further counseling. Others may need further qualified counseling. Remember CISD Debriefing does not replace professional counseling or psychiatric or psychological professional services. You are a first responder to provide “mental first-aid” so to speak.
NYCISF offers training to individuals, groups and agencies to certify them as Critical Incident Stress Debriefers. Our training can be facilitated at your location for groups of 10 or more or through our on-going online/independent study format. Our Certified Debriefer Course is a 16 hour course which upon completion certifies the individual to be able to provide mental health first aid to people who have been exposed to traumatic events.
A certificate and membership card indicating Certified Debriefer is provided to all successful candidates who pass the course. For further information on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing and how we can train people in your organization please contact us. We also provide Instructor Level Certification Courses several times a year. If your interested in obtaining CISM/CISD Instructor level certification please contact us for details and upcoming courses.