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Critical Incident Debriefing?
Who needs it?
Dr. Philipa S. Kirkpatrick
I can’t even remember where I saw the course advertised now that I think back. I had left Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and was living in Spain at the time.
I saw an advertisement for a Critical Incident Debriefing Course to be held in London in the July. I wrote for details and I liked the content. I am a psychotherapist, a cognitive therapist and I thought it might be interesting and something to add to my skills.. I never imagined that almost two years later I would be using the knowledge I gained on that training course. In fact I did not really take the course with the idea that I may one day be involved in a critical incident .Who does?
Circumstances brought me to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in November 2002. I have set up my practice in my villa, proudly displaying my degrees and diplomas on my office wall. I had one left over and no more wall. It was my Critical Incident Debriefing Diploma. I remember thinking to myself “Oh I’ll just stand this on top of my cupboard – it’s really the others that are significant to my clients”
I didn’t know it at the time but that phrase will stay with me for the rest of my life.
It was early Tuesday morning, 13th May 2003. I took my dog for a walk as usual and noticed a few people standing on the pavements looking worried. I thought nothing of it really. I got back home and my telephone was ringing. It was an American friend screaming down the telephone – “Are you OK – 3 compounds have been bombed last night!”
I went cold – I ran into the bedroom simultaneously shouting at my husband to wake up while trying to get the news channel on the television. It was true – 3 western compounds had been attacked and there was chaos and devastation. It was obvious by the pictures on the news that there would be many dead and Injured. I had friends on two of the compounds. Most were OK but traumatised – two had been killed – although we didn’t have this confirmed until later.
I immediately thought of the course I took out of interest all that time ago in London. I was hoping and praying that I had brought the documentation and manual with me. I had! I then called some of my clients living on one of the compounds and offered my assistance, confidently telling them that I was a qualified critical incident debriefer!
I was called by the compound manager and asked what I could do to help. I explained the process of debriefing as I had learned it, using the Mitchell and Dyregrove Model. I impressed on him the need to debrief as soon as possible in order to try to prevent the symptoms of PTSD at a later stage.
I set up some appointments and arranged to go to the compound. As soon as I put the telephone down I remember thinking “I am supposed to call a team together – I don’t know anybody else”. I then reached for the telephone and called the man who had trained me in London – Michael O’Sullivan. He was immediately at the end of the telephone giving me the most incredible moral support. He briefly reminded me of the key stages of the debrief and sent me off the telephone feeling confident and competent for the task ahead.
The next day I set up the debriefing room and waited for the people to arrive. I had said maximum 16 people per debrief. The day went well and I could see the tension dissipating as each session went on. The details that a participant may need to talk out are sometimes very harrowing for them; but as you apply the non-possessive warmth and control the debriefing, it fills you with a great sense of achievement as that person calms down and eventually leaves the room full of thanks and gratitude to you for just being there.
Almost 3 weeks after the incident I am still debriefing. Mostly families and individuals. I am doing many follow up sessions in my capacity as a psychotherapist.
I know I am making a difference. I know that men, women and children are sleeping better and enjoying life because they took advantage of these sessions. I have seen men who were in Desert Storm who were not debriefed and seen how this recent event has affected them even more. I know that early intervention such as psychological debriefing makes a difference.
I have seen it and experienced it first hand. Nobody expects to be involved in a major trauma. I am just grateful that this course exists and that I am able to assist in the on-going psychological recovery of some of the victims of this particular trauma.
Dr. Philipa S. Kirkpatrick
Ph.D. M.A. M.A.A.C.T. P.T. Couns. C.M.I.
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