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Mitchell says that two different nomenclatures are now acceptable in the description of the classic seven-phase process and better fit how worldwide organizations use the original CISM model. Some of the changes in descriptions include: • Demobilization is now also Rest Information Transition Sessions. This process is more of a large group information push. Defusing can now be referred to as Immediate Small Group Support. • Critical Incident Stress Debriefing is now also Powerful Event Group Support. Here are the variations in the phrases as they are now being used in conjunction with the classic seven-step Mitchell Model of CISD: I want to again stress that any type of debriefing, regardless of its name, is not therapy or counseling. It is simply a guided group process that appears helpful in allowing participants to vent. There are two interesting stories I want to share regarding the benefits of ventilation. I have long said that the Catholic Church has it right with confession. There is something to be said for being able to tell another person what is going on in your heart and head. Catharsis. The other story compares WWII vets to Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan soldiers returning home from war. In WWII, soldiers returned home on ships and this method of travel to America took weeks, if not months. This gave the soldiers ample opportunity to vent, laugh, and cry as they shared their war stories with one another. On the other hand, soldiers returning from Vietnam or the current wars are whisked home quickly on aircraft, and in some cases, they are taken straight from the battlefield to their own hometowns in a matter of days. This provides very little time, if any, to decompress from their traumatic experiences. It is vital for people that have been involved in or witness to trauma to share their stories. I firmly believe that we, as responders, are better off today then we were 18 years ago when it comes to intervention tools. We have so much more to choose from than just the original Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). Additionally, we have more than one debriefing model, and we are better trained due to a lot of trial and error. We have learned what works, what doesn’t, and what works best. Psychological debriefings have evolved for the better. I have learned that one size does not fit all, and therefore we should never use a cookie-cutter approach to all events. We have also learned when to refer out, as CISM is peer-driven. Evaluating actions and reactions properly and being able to identify when professional help is needed is critical. Where will we be in the next 20 years? Hopefully not dealing with another mass murder in Central Texas. Yet, if we continue to learn as we have over the last 18 years, I know we will be better equipped at applying our wares. We need to remain open-minded and do all we can to encompass even more populations into the intervention fold. We should also ensure that new interventions are continuing to be developed and that current models are being updated. I’m reminded of one line of the Soldier’s Creed, “I will never leave a fallen comrade.” It is very similar to the creed of fire service and other first responders, and I believe it is also a great creed for those of us that provide crisis incident interventions. “We will leave no comrade behind who has suffered a psychological trauma. We will strive to do everything in our power to relieve the suffering of our brothers and sisters, and above all, do no further harm.” Fact Brief Situation Review First Thoughts First Impressions Reactions Aspect of the event impacting you the most Symptoms Signals of distress Teaching Stress information and recovery guidelines Re-entry Summary
Intervention Timing Activation Goals Format 1. Pre-crisis preparation Pre-crisis phase Anticipation of crisis Set expectations. Improve coping. Stress Management. Group Organization 2. Demobilization & Staff Consult (rescuers); Group info. briefing for civilians, schools, businesses. Post-crisis; or shift disengagement Event driven To inform, consult. Allow psychological decompression. Stress management Large group organization 3. Defusing Post-crisis (within 12 hours) Usually symptom driven Symptom mitigation. Possible closure. Triage Small group 4. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) Post-crisis (1 to 7 days) Usually symptom driven. Can be event driven Facilitate psychological closure. Mitigation. Triage Small group 5. Individual crisis intervention (1:1) Any time Anywhere Symptom driven Symptom mitigation. Return to function, if possible. Referral, if needed. Individual 6. Family CISM; Org. consultation Any time Either symptom driven or event driven Foster support, communications. Symptom mitigation. Closure, if possible. Referral, if needed. Organization 7. Follow-up; Referral Any time Usually symptom drive Assess mental status. Access higher level of care. Indiviual, Family. [From: Everly, G. & Mitchell, 3. (1997) Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). A New Era and Standard of Care in Crisis Intervention. Ellicott City, MD: Chevron Publishing.]
CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM): THE SEVEN CORE COMPONENTS David J. Fair, PhD, CHS-IV, ACMC-III, CPT, SSIC, CHSEMR, CDP-1, CRC Chaplain David Fair writes a regular column about chaplaincy for Inside Homeland Security.® He has served at dozens of disasters including Ground Zero following 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, NASA Space Shuttle Disaster, the Luby’s massacre, and the Fort Hood shootings. Read Chaplain Fair’s full biography on our contributors page. 877.219.2519 www.abchs.com Inside Homeland Security® Spring 2010 15
You are most comfortable and effcient in familiar surroundings: your primary field of expertise. Yet, it can be difficult to put your expertise to work if you are unfamiliar with and uncomfortable in a courtroom setting. The Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC ® program will educate you in the complexity of the American judicial system.
Combine your expertise with knowledge of the judicial system by becoming a Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC®.
The CFC program is intended to train forensic professionals in all aspects of courtroom procedures, and it seeks to equip individuals with a better understanding of the unique U.S. judicial system. The CFC designation contributes to your personal competency and adds to the weight of your testimony. After completing the CFC course, individuals are better able to assess the validity of presented evidence,apply specialized knowledge to the case, and have a more in depth knowledge of the scope of the issues.
The Course covers the following:
For more information or to enroll online click here
The requirements to become an Accredited Forensic Counselor, AFC, are as follows:
The New Certified in Survival Mindset, CSM
ACFEI, The American College of Forensic Examiners has joined with The International College of Behavioral Sciences, ICBS, to present the newest opportunity in credentialing, Certified in Survival Mindset, CSM. The course is a product of the work of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and is important to physical and psychological survival before, during, and after a devastating incident. An expert in the subject, Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is recognized internationally as a scholar, author, soldier, and speaker. He is regarded as ones of the world's leading experts in human aggression and the roots of violence as well as violent crimes.
For more information on this course, or to enroll click here!
To to become a member of ACFEI click here!
About the AFC, Accredited Forensic Counselor, Program
Forensic Counselors are specialist in criminal justice counseling and evaluation in community and correctional settings. This particular forensic discipline allows for effective as well as safe treatment for civil and criminal offenders. Forensic Counselors offer ethical evaluations and beneficial services related to parole, probation, victim assistance, law enforcement, and expert evaluations. When the lines of communication between the justice and the clinical systems are improved then forensic counselors are better able to help the public from potentially harmful people.
The AFC program gives you a method to confirm and train those who work in the mental health community who also desire to use their skills in the courtroom. When you achieve this credential you are setting yourself apart from others with your elevated skills and abilities to provide courtroom testimony as well as mental health evaluations.
To learn more or to enroll online click here!
Want to know more about the American College of Forensic Examiners? Read the definitive history of the world's foremost association for foresnic experts, mental health professionals, and homeland security experts. If you want to understand the rise of ACFEI, this is the only book you'll ever need.
You can access United for Truth here.
Aside from our many strategic alliances and accreditations, here are some more things to keep in mind before choosing a credentialing program, and why the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute and its sister associations are a good choice to make:
For more information about credentials, the associations, or our journals, please visit us:
The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute: www.acfei.com
The American Psychotherapy Association: www.americanpsychotherapy.com
The American Association of Integrative Medicine: www.aaimedicine.com
The American Board for Certification in Homeland Security: www.abchs.com
Membership. Some of The American College of Forensic Examiners’ well-known members and Board members include; Dr. Henry Lee, Dr. Greg Vecchi, Dr. Zhaoming Chen, Dr. Marc Rabinoff, Congressmen Billy Long and Steven King, and Governor Tom Ridge. These individuals, as well as many other not listed here, have helped mold and guide ACFEI to be the prestigious, online, interactive, multimedia publisher that it is today. They have contributed their knowledge and expertise to ACFEI’s online credentialing programs such as the Certified Forensic Physician®, CFP program; the Registered Investigator®, RI®, program; and the Certified Forensic Consultant, CFC® program; to name a few.
ACFEI and all of its associations are continually seeking further validations, alliances, and accreditations in order to offer maximum continuing education benefits to its thousands of members. Sometimes it is our very members who foster these relationships; we encourage you to get involved and share your ideas for future alliances! This is a group of associations that recognize themselves as yours. We invite you to add your expertise to the pool and make it even greater.
Call (800) 423-9737 for more information, or visit acfei.com.
ACFEI is also an approved provider of training by the following professional organizations:
The outside bodies listed above, as well as the many other attest to the fact that the ACFEI has met or exceeded their regulations and standards to be approved providers of training. Organizations that represent medical doctors, accountants, psychologists, attorneys, law enforcement officers, dentists, military personnel, and numerous other professions and specialties would never approve an lesser, unregulated institution to provide training to these important persons.
Please contact either the American College of Forensic Examiners International, The American Board for Certifcation in Homeland Security, The American Association of Integrative Medicine, or the American Psychotherapy Association for more information about their respective programs, accrediting organizations, and educational opportunities:
www.acfei.com; (800) 423-9737
www.abchs.com; (877) 219-2519
www.aaimedicine.com; (877) 718-3053
www.americanpsycotherapy.com; (800) 205-9165
As the editor in chief of The Forensic Examiner, Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association, and Inside Homeland Security (all peer-reviewed and available on newsstands); and for the associations themselves (The American College of Forensic Examiners International, The American Board for Certification in Homeland Security, the American Psychotherapy Association, and the American Association of Integrative Medicine), I have the privilege of working not only with individuals with remarkable talent, credentials, experience, and professionalism here at the ACFEI Headquarters, but also with the thousands of members who renew their memberships year after year to learn, network, and even teach one another.
I am proud to work with the courses and articles conceived and written by dedicated professionals who have made it their living to help heal, defend, serve, protect, and save their fellow citizens from terrorism, criminals, mental illness, disease, and so many other world problems and pandemics. I have reviewed dozens of resumes and curriculum vitae for my peer reviewers and course authors. Their degrees, credentials, and experience speak for themselves of the excellence embraced and exuded by the associations.
Under the umbrella of the American College of Forensic Examiners International, I have reviewed and edited articles that discuss cutting-edge research written with government agents I interviewed in person at Quantico; I have met forensic legends Dr. Cyril Wecht and Dr. Henry Lee (both long-time ACFEI members); and I get to see to completion the modules and coursework that are born of the passion of many prominent individuals from an array of important fields. I know for a fact that the continuing education curricula individuals like these and others help create are forged from impeccable research, training, and consultation. These people are far too intelligent, prestigious, and philanthropic to waste their time with lesser organizations; Dr. Robert O’Block’s ACFEI stands only for legitimacy and professionalism.
What is it that draws so many—nurses, physicians, soldiers, investigators, government employees, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and a sheer multitude of other honorable professions—into the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute fold? Decide for yourself, as thousands wisely did before you:
www.acfei.com
www.abchs.com
www.americanpsychotherapy.com
www.aaimedicine.com
The American College of Forensic Examiners Institute began in 1992; it is still here. Most membership associations rise and fall in less than a decade, but the passion of ACFEI’s founder, Dr. Robert O’Block, and the thousands of reputable people his associations help each year, has fueled continued growth since ACFEI’s inception nearly two decades ago.
As we continually improve our continuing education coursework, Web presence, and printed publications, that growth is bound to continue. The fields in which our members work, study, and fight—homeland security, all areas of forensics, integrative medicine, and psychotherapy—are not going anywhere anytime soon, and are dynamic and ever evolving. When you join the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security, the American Association for Integrative Medicine, the American Psychotherapy Association, or the tried-and-true American College of Forensic Examiners Institute, you will see that we rise above the competition in offering continuing education excellence. Dr. Robert O’Block has created a unique opportunity for you to meet like-minded professionals to network, learn, and teach one another and the world at large.
To learn more about each of these associations, please come see us:
The American College of Forensic Examiners: www.acfei.com
The American Board for Certification in Homeland Security: www.abchs.com
The American Association of Integrative Medicine: www.aaim.com
The American Psychotherapy Association: www.americanpsychotherapy.com
Copyright ©2009
ABFC,
ACFEI,
and ABCHS. All rights reserved. Dr. Robert O'Block, Founder, CEO, and Publisher.
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