DEBRIEFING PROCESSS

1. Steps to crisis counselling
Moenga Fredrick
0717268348
moengafredrick@gmail.com

2. Debriefing process
7 stage model

3. Stages of Critical incident stress
debriefing(CISD)
• Introduction
• Fact phase
• Thought Phase
• Reaction/feeling phase
• Symptom phase
• Education phase
• Reentry

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1. Introductory Phase
• The facilitators introduce themselves and tell the group
that they are aware of what has happened (name the
trauma) and that the purpose of the group is to talk about
the event. Rules are set so that pupils feel safe in the group.
The rules should include;
• Ask members to introduce themselves and tell why they
are in the group.
• Help members clarify their goals regarding what they would
like to accomplish in the meeting.
• Discuss confidentiality: What group members talk about
stays in the group. Get a commitment from all members to
maintain confidentiality.

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• Respect each other and maintain silence when
someone is talking.
• Elect or appoint a co-leader or a peer leader to keep
the gate (that is, not let people in or out).
• Remind the group that no member holds rank over
any other group member and that everyone’s
participations valued equally.

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2. Fact phase
• Focus on discussing what happened.
• Each person is given an opportunity to tell the
group a bout what happened during the trauma
including the facts about their experiences in their
own words.
• This phase clarifies exactly what happened for all of
the clients and clears up unnecessary anxiety or
playground speculation.
• Encourage everyone to participate.

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3.Thoughts And Feeling phase
• This phase examines the thoughts and feelings of
the client during the trauma.
• Debriefers needs to help the client along by
asking a few questions such as “How did you feel
when you saw the man holding the gun?’.

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• This phase helps to reduce the sense of isolation
as they begin to realize that others also had
similar thoughts and feelings or also experienced
strong emotional reactions such as fear or panic.
Ask, “What happened then?”
Ask “What are you experiencing now?”

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4. Clients’ symptoms
• Ask, “How is this affecting you? Grades, your studies, your
health, and so on?” (Is the member having trouble sleeping
or studying or is the member worrying too much?)
• The effects of the trauma on the client are discussed.
• Usually the client spontaneously talk about the post
traumatic symptoms.
• The facilitator gives a summary of the symptoms and adds
those that might not have been mentioned.

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5. Teaching /Coping Phase.
• Children are invited to give suggestion on ways to
deal with the symptoms.
• The facilitator explains where the children can go
for help.
• Explore the common responses to this incident.
• Brainstorm about how people have been
responding to the incident.
• Discuss how each response is helpful or not helpful
to people.

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6. Summary Phase/ Closure Phase.
• The facilitator thanks the children for their cooperation and
affirms their bravery in talking about the trauma.
• The session can be evaluated each client telling what was
helpful and what was not.
• If possible the facilitator should offer follow up group. This
allows the client to talk about progress and improvement.
• The debriefing can be draining for the clients - A break and
if possible refreshments should be provided afterwards.