For those events where large numbers of responders have experienced a critical incident together, group intervention applications have been designed. Generally, CISM teams are deployed in such situations. This course meets training qualifications for Critical Incident Stress Management Team membership.

From a multi-disciplinary series of group intervention methods you will learn about Crisis Management Briefings, demobilizations (aka Rest Information Transition Services), and defusings (aka Immediate Small Group Support) as well as Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. Popularly known as "CISD", this was the first, and continues to be the most widely recognized, element of the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation curriculum.

Adopted by the United Nations as the crisis intervention model for world-wide use, there have been some terminology changes. In addition to the alternative lables listed above, CISD can also be called "Powerful Event Group Support" or PEGS

CISD/PEGS sessions are highly formalized in order to provide confidentiality, non-judgment, equality of rank and seven phases through which the group is guided in order to invite the healing of shared experience. Participants learn that others are experiencing some of the troubling symptoms they themselves are undergoing. Those who are symptom-free provide the hope of full recovery from traumatic events.

Many hospitals, fire, EMS, and police agencies have CISM teams for their own personnel and to assist other agencies at the time of need. CISM members become identified as resources within agencies to assess the level of need and to have the resources to initiate an appropriate response.

More information on the need and purposes of CISM training are listed at our site for the Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support Course.

For the ICISF catalog description of the Group Crisis Intervention course, click here.