Often times, in the context that we are living in, we experience a significant trauma or crisis as a group.  

 

Group trauma counselling would be recommended if a traumatic event has occurred and there is general distress or dysfunction due to the crisis.

 

Examples of these crises are:

 

• Death/suicide of a colleague

• Experiencing an armed robbery in the work place

• A serious work related injury

• A crime that occurs in the work environment

 

The importance of having group debriefing is to reduce the distress within the group and restore group cohesion and performance.

 

Another advantage of group counselling is that it can be used to identify any individual within the group who may need individual counselling.

 

Group trauma counselling can be incredibly rewarding as it allows individuals to tell their story as well as having a newfound support structure within the group.

 

The process I use is the critical incident stress debriefing (CISD). This is done in a small group and is a seven step supportive intervention process. A CISD is a supportive and crisis focused discussion of a traumatic event. It involves the group telling over the events and describing their thoughts and feelings. This debriefing is also an avenue to give the group practical information in order  to normalize some of the symptoms that they may have experienced, due to the severity of the trauma.

 

I am an affiliate of ICAS Southern Africa, the world’s leading provider of behavioural risk management services to the business community. I have had invaluable experience doing group and individual counselling in the corporate enviroment. 

 

Part of my service includes travelling to my client to perform a group trauma debriefing.

 

Please contact me if you would like to get more information on Trauma Counselling.