Head, Heart & Hand
CISM Team: Critical Incident Stress Management
P: 825.777.CISM (2476)
E: dave@cismteam.com
Expert Crisis Intervention Training & Program Development
Our team offers premier training and comprehensive support to set up your team and/or equip your team with the skills to effectively manage critical incidents. Our programs are uniquely certified by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and the University of Maryland's Department of Emergency Health Services, home to the world's first university-based certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM).
Our Core Offerings:
Certified Training Courses:
Assisting Individuals in Crisis (2 days)
Group Crisis Intervention (2 days)
GRIN (Group & Individual Crisis Intervention (3 days)
Advanced Individual Crisis Intervention (2 days)
These essential courses are available both virtually and in-person, providing flexible learning options to suit your needs.
Program Development & Guidance: Beyond training, we provide expert guidance to help you establish a robust crisis intervention program. This includes assistance with developing clear procedures, policies, and guidelines tailored to your organization.
Ongoing Consultation: We believe in your team's long-term success. That's why our team offers follow-up consultation to ensure your program remains effective and your team feels supported.
Future Training & Services:
We are committed to expanding our offerings to meet evolving needs:
Upcoming Courses:
ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Other advanced ICISF courses
Onsite Interventions: When critical incidents occur, our team can provide immediate onsite interventions, including Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and Crisis Management Briefing (CMB), to support your personnel.
While our in-house team is highly skilled, we also have the flexibility to bring in additional expertise from our trusted network of professionals for specific incident needs.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an evidence-based, comprehensive system of crisis intervention designed to mitigate the psychological impact of traumatic events. It provides a structured process to support individuals affected by critical incidents, whether they are primary victims or secondary responders.
Functioning as a form of psychological first aid, CISM can be implemented before, during, and after a crisis. Its primary focus is on immediate support and intervention to help individuals cope with the intense stress and emotional challenges that often follow traumatic experiences.
Important Note: CISM is not a substitute for psychotherapy. While it plays a vital role in immediate support and enhancing resilience, it focuses on crisis stabilization and psychological first aid rather than long-term therapeutic treatment.
CISM encompasses a variety of interventions and support mechanisms, all aimed at helping individuals manage the psychological effects of traumatic events and foster greater resilience in the face of adversity.
The Benefits of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
Implementing a robust Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program offers significant advantages for individuals, teams, and entire organizations:
Reduced Trauma: CISM interventions are designed to actively mitigate the immediate and long-term psychological impact of critical incidents on individuals and teams, helping to prevent or lessen the severity of traumatic stress.
Improved Resilience: Through proactive strategies and effective support systems, CISM helps individuals and groups develop stronger coping mechanisms, significantly enhancing their overall resilience to future stressors and adverse events.
Enhanced Performance: By addressing the psychological well-being of personnel, CISM supports individuals and teams in maintaining focus and performing their duties effectively, even when operating in high-stress, demanding environments.
Organizational Support: CISM empowers organizations to cultivate a genuinely supportive culture and establish a well-defined, compassionate response framework for managing critical incidents, demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of their most valuable asset—their people.
Who Benefits from CISM?
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an essential intervention widely adopted across professions and settings that frequently encounter high-stress and potentially traumatic events. Our CISM training and support are invaluable for:
Emergency & First Responder Services: Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Correctional Officers, and Military Personnel, who are routinely exposed to critical incidents.
Healthcare Workers: Including doctors, nurses, and all medical staff on the front lines.
Mental Health Professionals & Social Workers: Enhancing their capacity to manage crisis situations and support their clients.
Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities, preparing staff to respond to campus emergencies.
High-Risk Industries: Such as the Oil Industry and Construction, where serious incidents can occur.
Transportation & Logistics: Airports and Aviation Staff, ensuring preparedness for unforeseen events.
Essentially, CISM is beneficial for ANY setting where a critical incident may occur, providing the framework and skills to mitigate psychological impact and foster resilience.
We are proud to offer our courses to professionals for CEU (Continuing Education Units), supporting ongoing professional development and certification.
Integrating CISM with Your Existing Support Systems
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is designed to seamlessly integrate with and enhance your current Employee Assistance Program (EAP), rather than replace it. CISM provides specialized, immediate crisis intervention that complements the broader scope of services offered by EAPs, creating a more robust and comprehensive support network for your employees.
While Peer Support describes individuals who offer invaluable assistance, it's important to note that peer supporters may not always possess formal training in crisis intervention. Their strength lies in shared experience and empathy.
In contrast, CISM team members are specifically required to be qualified in crisis intervention. This ensures that individuals providing CISM support have undergone rigorous training in structured, evidence-based techniques to effectively manage the psychological aftermath of traumatic events. This distinction guarantees a high level of expertise and a standardized approach to crisis response.
Main Instructor: Dave Sawh (M.A. Psychology, CCISM)
Meet Your Expert in Crisis Intervention & Trauma
With over 30 years of dedicated experience in the fields of crisis intervention and trauma, our lead expert brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to every program.
Diverse Professional Background:
Our expert's extensive career spans multiple critical areas:
Forensic, Educational, and Counselling Psychologist: Specializing in law enforcement and private practice, providing deep insights into human behavior and psychological well-being across diverse settings.
Specialized Assessments: Proficient in conducting Parenting Assessments, Psychological Risk Assessments for the Courts and National Parole Board, and Educational Assessments, offering crucial insights for legal and personal development.
Correctional and Parole Officer: Directly worked with male and female offenders across all security levels, gaining invaluable first-hand experience in high-stress, complex environments.
Culturally Competent and Compassionate:
Years of counselling clients through Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) claims have fostered a strong sense of cultural competence across numerous occupations. This diverse experience ensures a nuanced and empathetic approach to every situation.
Our expert's commitment extends to the community, with a history of volunteering on crisis lines, further demonstrating a dedication to supporting individuals in distress.
A full CV is available upon request, detailing the comprehensive experience and qualifications.
Contact Us
Interested in training your CISM Team or obtaining Continuing Education Units (CEU)? Would you like us to do a Crisis Intervention? Reach out and we will be in touch shortly. Happy to assist! 🙂