CISM Debriefers

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2 Comments

Comment by michael wilson on August 18, 2008 at 7:12pm

hello, thank you for adding me.

God bless you all.

Comment by David Ebel on April 16, 2008 at 11:24pm

I've been a Chaplain for over 25 years and a pastor for 10 years more than that. I am chaplain for 2 departments now and am part of both of their CISM teams.

During the earlier (pre CISM) years I discovered that there were times that the things I used in regular ministry were weak and poor answers for responders who have just been in or around a major trauma. I took my first CISM class about 5 years ago and I knew that was going to be a serious part of the rest of my life.

Since then I have been trained in several levels of Critical Incident Stress Management and as a Trained Trainer in peer to peer, group and emotional and spiritual care, too. I expect to get the trained trainer in grief following trauma this year.

In traveling the country for 12 years and even traveling beyond, I have seen so many that are out there "taking care of business" but have not had someone at home to then help them manage the trauma that was experienced. "Suck it up" is not an acceptable way to manage trauma and traumatic events. Sharing with others who do understand what you feel because they have been there before you allows for every responder to have somewhere to go to vent, debrief and sort out what we feel from what we have done.

In the past few months I have made several contacts with responders across the country that either had no CISM support available or had a peer issue of feeling if they asked for help they would be seen as weak or be passed over for a promotion. One who would not seek help even though he admitted he needed it later ate his gun.

In response to what I saw was a need I created a web site for responders staffed by trained CISM and beyond multilevel trained responders that are there for the guys after the bad calls. It helps the responders that do not yet have a team or would be worried that they asking for help would be seen as weakness. Please join and share it when you can.

Having seen what I have seen as a chaplain over the years of service to fire departments I am excited with it's potential to provide support.

Visit Emergency and Disaster Responders
Chaplain David Ebel Bakersfield, CA