◆ SpookStack

UNCLASSIFIED Crisis Intervention Program Policy Guide safety, comfort, and support. As appropriate, it will facilitate the normalizing of feelings and perceptions by providing an awareness of expected physical or psychological reactions to critical incident exposure. One-to-one consultation establishes rapport for future follow-up. This process is helpful in identifying the personal impact of the event on the individual. 4.10.4. Grief Response This is an intervention crafted to address the grief of one individual, a group of individuals experiencing the same loss, and/or an FBIHQ division or an FO responding to the same loss. for an impacted employee or a group of impacted employees. When a larger number of employees is involved, supportive discussion of the loss will be encouraged. Education about grief response is provided and referrals to grief support groups and counselors are made available. 4.10.5. Group Debriefing This is a formal intervention process targeted to first responders. Group debriefing is designed to mitigate the psychological impact of a critical incident and to serve as an early identification mechanism for individuals who may require professional mental health follow-ups. The debriefing group model is never considered or described as a form of therapy. Strict guidelines should be followed when debriefing groups of impacted individuals. The group number should not exceed 20. Only persons operating as part of a first responder team and experiencing the same event should be debriefed together. Individuals with different levels of exposure should not debrief in the same group. Group debriefings should occur in a single setting within 72 hours of the critical incident and no Iater than seven days after the critical incident. Only those trained in up-to-date group debriefing processes may conduct group debriefings. A group should be facilitated by a sufficient number of CIP personnel to conduct the group debriefing, but not overwhelm the attendees. 4.10.6. Small Group Intervention or Discussion Small group intervention or discussion may be an optimal way of bringing together individuals who have involvement in the same crisis scenario or critical event but who did not perform as part of a first responder team. An EAC (i.e., a licensed EAP mental health professional), in conjunction with an EAP peer or an FBI chaplain, should lead the group. The size of the group must allow all participants to have time to ask questions and relay concerns (avoid groups larger than ten participants). The group leaders can provide educational information on self-care, warning signs of significant stress responses, and referral resources. The goal of the small group is to facilitate a global discussion about a significant event and its impact upon the FBIHQ division or FO, responders, and family members. Not only does this process provide an outlet for affected individuals, but it may also help reduce stigma and alert them to additional resources 4.10.7. Individual Counseling Individual counseling with impacted individuals will only be provided by licensed mental health professionals versed in traumatic exposure and recovery processes. Individual counseling may be recommended for cases of high intensity or those with complicating factors (e.g., prior exposure history, confidentiality concerns, or personal preferences). This may be used as an alternative or an adjunct to other CIP services. Individual counseling may include appropriate cognitive behavioral therapeutic (CBT) approaches. CBT can reduce the risk of irrational cognitions, 17 UNCLASSIFIED