Rescheduling and Cancellation Policy

2-Day (13 contact hours) Assisting Individuals in Crisis  

8:30am to 4:30pm

In this 13-hour course delivered by an ICISF Approved Instructor, participants delve into essential skills for aiding individuals who’ve experienced trauma. The curriculum covers not just the techniques for assistance but also explores the theories that make these techniques effective.

Participants are introduced to the SAFER-Revised crisis intervention model, a versatile tool for both professional and personal use. By the end of the course, people understand that life experiences have already equipped them with the foundation for crisis intervention. The specifics of this training allow them to be more deliberate in the use of and understand the mechanics behind the help they provide.

This training enhances existing skills with a structured approach, enabling participants to more effectively support others facing challenging situations.

Usually facilitated over two consecutive days, these are the Course Highlights:

• Understanding psychological crises and intervention strategies
• The journey from resistance to resilience and recovery
• Techniques for managing stress from critical incidents
• The role of evidence-based practices in effective intervention
• Fundamental crisis communication strategies
• Typical psychological and behavioral responses to crisis situations
• The SAFER-Revised model for Psychological First Aid
• Essentials of suicide intervention
• Awareness of the risks associated with inadvertent harm

This training is appropriate for any person 16 years of age or older. Material of this type is most effectively learnt in person however this course is also available via online instruction with a live facilitator the entire time. The same certificate is awarded for either in-person or online training. Upon completing this workshop and attending all 13 hours, participants receive a certificate that counts towards the ICISF’s Certificate of Specialized Training Program

Contact CounterStress Solutions today to register for training or inquire about training for your team, staff, or organization. This course will be customized to your needs including training scenarios and schedule.

Check here for currently available courses.

Download a copy of this course description here.

In this 14-hour course delivered by an ICISF Approved Instructor, online or in person, participants dive into essential skills for aiding groups of people who’ve experienced trauma.

Participants learn how a difficult event can impact a group of people and how they can effectively support them. The curriculum covers not just the techniques for assistance but also explores theories that make these techniques effective. This training is a step up from the “Assisting Individuals in Crisis” course, and it broadens the use of the ICISF Crisis Intervention Model.

The course is crafted to introduce the key aspects of a detailed and varied crisis intervention program. Students learn about a wide array of crisis intervention services, starting with the basics of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM). By the end, they have the know-how and tools to carry out various group crisis interventions. The vital importance of proper follow-up and making referrals when needed is also covered.

Usually facilitated over two consecutive days, these are the Course Highlights:

• Latest research and best practices in crisis intervention
• How to assess an incident and plan your intervention strategically
• Understanding the journey from resistance, through resilience, to recovery
• Conducting interactive and informational group crisis interventions
• Recognizing and reducing potential negative effects of crisis intervention

Upon completing this workshop and attending all 14 hours, participants receive a certificate that counts towards the ICISF’s Certificate of Specialized Training Program

This training is appropriate for any person 16 years of age or older. Material of this type is most effectively learnt in person however this course is also available via online instruction with a live facilitator the entire time. The same certificate is awarded for either in-person or online training.

Contact CounterStress Solutions today to register for training or inquire about training for your team, staff, or organization. This course will be customized to your needs including training scenarios and schedule.

Download a copy of this course description here.

3-Day (27 contact hours) Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention (The GRIN) 

Course Description:
This 3-day course combines ALL of the content of ICISF’s Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention courses.  Two certificates are awarded following 27 contact hours with the instructor.  Full attendance is required to earn both certificates.  Partial completion of the training does not earn a single certificate.

Crisis Intervention is NOT psychotherapy; rather, it is a specialized acute emergency mental health intervention which requires specialized training. As physical first aid is to surgery, crisis intervention is to psychotherapy. Thus, crisis intervention is sometimes called “emotional first aid” or “Psychological first aid” (PFA).

Designed to present the core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multi-component crisis intervention curriculum, this course will prepare participants to understand a wide range of crisis intervention services for both the individual and for groups.

Fundamentals of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) will be outlined and participants will leave with the knowledge and tools to provide several group crisis interventions, specifically; Crisis Management Briefing, RITS, defusings and the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). The need for appropriate follow-up services and referrals when necessary will also be discussed.

This course is designed for anyone in the fields of Business & Industry Crisis Intervention, Disaster Response, Education, Emergency Services, Employee Assistance, Healthcare, Homeland Security, Mental Health, Military, Spiritual Care, and Traumatic Stress.

Program Highlights:

• Understanding psychological crises and intervention strategies
• The journey from resistance to resilience and recovery
• Techniques for managing stress from critical incidents
• The role of evidence-based practices in effective intervention
• Fundamental crisis communication strategies
• Typical psychological and behavioral responses to crisis situations
• The SAFER-Revised model for Psychological First Aid
• Essentials of suicide intervention
• Awareness of the risks associated with inadvertent harm
• Informational group crisis interventions
• Interactive group crisis interventions
• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

The Secrets of Psychological Body Armor ™ – Holistic Wellness for Emergency Services and Healthcare Professions 

Course Description

This course is designed to aid participants in building a personal culture of resilience and holistic health. The unique approach is intended to help you learn to better manage the stress in your life in order to increase your potential for happiness, success, and even create a competitive advantage through the creation of what we call Psychological Body Armor ™. There is no “quick fix” in this program. It is not designed to be a “pop psych” feel-good course. Rather, this course contains facts and specific suggestions for actions you can take to enhance your personal resilience, all based upon the latest and most credible science.

View a short video about the development of this course on the ICISF website here.

Learning Objectives

Following this training day, participants will be better equipped to:

• Describe the nature of Psychological Body Armor ™ (PBA)
• Recognize resilient attitudes
• Use physical exercise to strengthen PBA
• Use nutrition to fuel PBA
• Use rest to recharge and restore PBA
• Use interpersonal support
• Understand how spirituality relates to PBA
• Develop a fully personalized PBA plan

Material of this type is most effectively learnt in person however this course is also available via online instruction with a live facilitator the entire time. The same certificate is awarded for either in-person or online training. Upon completing this workshop and attending all 13 hours, participants receive a certificate that counts towards the ICISF’s Certificate of Specialized Training Program

Contact CounterStress Solutions today to register for training or inquire about training for your team, staff, or organization. This course can be customized to your needs including training scenarios and schedule.

Download a copy of this course description here.

Mindful@Work ™  as developed by the Global Minds Collective.

Course Description

The Mindful@work program helps your employees cultivate mental and physical resilience while building social and emotional intelligence. Show your employees how your organization demonstrates it commitment to their well-being by giving them the tools to enhance their creativity, skillful candor and collaboration while building focus, resilience and trust.

The mindful@work program runs through 8 main topics while touching upon 2 addition components. The 8-hour course requires a minimum of 10 people.

Topics include:

1. Exploring Mindfulness
2. Mind & Body Connection
3. Noticing Emotional Triggers
4. Practicing Gratitude
5. Open-Mindedness
6. Handling Conflict Skillfully
7. Nurturing Compassion
8. Embodying Mindfulness

Additional components:

• Writing for resilience
• Breathing techniques/Meditation

Investing in workplace learning is as important as the employees themselves.  It demonstrates to your team your commitment to their well being and will make you an established employer of choice when most companies are currently dealing with high levels of turnover and challenges with employee retention. 

The World Health Organization recently stated that by 2030 mental health issues will form the biggest burden on health care resources (outpacing both heart disease & cancer).

The Mindful @ Work program helps you to retain your talented employees by teaching & empowering them to develop their own tools and practices that will:

• Reduce stress and increase happiness in the workplace
• Increase attention span and critical thinking
• Navigate challenges
• Better understand and manage their emotions
• Enhance creativity
• Develop and maintain healthy work relationships with peers

The true benefit to the Mindful @ Work program is that although it will help participants cultivate mental and physical resilience in the workplace, these practices can also benefit them in their personal lives.

Visit the contact page to start planning a course exclusively for your group.  

The training will be facilitated by: Quinn Marshall

If your Peer Support or CISM Team has been trained and needs some refresher activities or exercises, this may be the training you are looking for.

Training will be collaboratively created to ensure the content is relevant to your group and situation.  This is often an excellent opportunity for team-building as well as review of difficulties that have arisen for your group.

The day(s) can include:

• a review of the ICISF Model of Critical Incident Stress Management with emphasis on Assisting Individuals in Crisis and/or  Group Crisis Interventions;
• practical exercises chosen to enhance your group’s understanding of crisis intervention specific to their unique application of the skills;
• strategic planning exercises specific to your group’s application of the ICISF Model:
• team building exercises if desired; and
• any other material deemed desirable and appropriate for your group.

Contact CounterStress Solutions today to register for training or inquire about training for your team, staff, or organization. This course will be customized to your needs including training scenarios and schedule.

Building on the foundational principles covered in the prerequisite course, Assisting Individuals in Crisis, this 13-hour, advanced course delves deeper into the intricacies of crisis intervention.

Utilizing the SAFER-R framework, participants will first review tactics and then explore scenario-based variations of the model, enhancing their ability to respond effectively to complex crisis situations. Key topics include advanced psychological triage, grief management, suicide intervention, challenges in follow-up and referral processes, and the importance of self-care for crisis responders. Additionally, participants will have an opportunity to critically evaluate pre-recorded video examples of crisis intervention to reinforce learning and application of the SAFER-R model.

Usually facilitated over two consecutive days, these are the Course Highlights:

• Comprehensive understanding of psychological crises and the role of psychological crisis intervention
• In-depth exploration of critical incident stress management (CISM) and its function within a continuum of care
• Advanced empathic communication techniques for effective crisis intervention
• Practical application of psychological triage in high-stress situations
• Detailed examination of the SAFER-Revised model in various scenarios, including suicide intervention and follow-up/referral processes
• Discussion on mitigating the risks of iatrogenic harm during crisis intervention
• Essential principles and practices of self-care for crisis responders

Material of this type is most effectively learnt in person however this course is also available via online instruction with a live facilitator the entire time. The same certificate is awarded for either in-person or online training. Upon completing this workshop and attending all 13 hours, participants receive a certificate that counts towards the ICISF’s Certificate of Specialized Training Program

Contact CounterStress Solutions today to register for training or inquire about training for your team, staff, or organization. This course can be customized to your needs including training scenarios and schedule.

Download a copy of this course description here.

Building on the foundational principles covered in the prerequisite course, Group Crisis Intervention, this 14-hour, advanced course delves deeper into the intricacies of complex situations with groups.

The course places a strong emphasis on advanced defusing and debriefing techniques, particularly in complex and high-stakes situations. This course is ideal for anyone with prior training and experience providing crisis intervention with groups under the ICISF model. Prior training and experience in crisis intervention are required to participate in this course.

Usually facilitated over two consecutive days, these are the Course Highlights:

• Managing Complex Interventions including:
  • significantly delayed interventions,
  • multiple-event CISD,
  • symbolic CISD,
  • workplace deaths,
  • suicide of a colleague, and
  • post-disaster interventions with groups
• Review and Enhanced Incident Assessment and Planning using the Five T’s strategy from the introductory course
• Introduction to and application of the 5-phase CISD process

Material of this type is most effectively learnt in person however this course is also available via online instruction with a live facilitator the entire time. The same certificate is awarded for either in-person or online training. Upon completing this workshop and attending all 14 hours, participants receive a certificate that counts towards the ICISF’s Certificate of Specialized Training Program.

Participants have the opportunity to complete a case-study based on a historical incident and have their work evaluated by the facilitator.

Contact CounterStress Solutions today to register for training or inquire about training for your team, staff, or organization. This course can be customized to your needs including training scenarios and schedule.

Download a copy of this course description here.

This course is not available via remote training.