Exploring the Process: A Narrative Analysis of Group Facilitators’ Reports on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Abstract

Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) is a psychoeducational group intervention offered after exposure to potentially traumatizing events. This exploratory inquiry examined how mental health and peer facilitators utilized elements of group work practices during CISD interventions. Narratives from 16 mental health and 14 peer facilitators reported how elements of group planning, performing, and processing appear. Important group-process aspects included attention to establishing ground rules and defining boundaries for confidentiality, managing member disclosure, and pacing the process to prevent harm from over-processing the traumatic event. Implications for practice suggest that following best practice guidelines in group work is protective of the CISD process and the participants.