Frequently asked questions

We now know what helps people to recover. While many acknowledge there is a role for mainstream services and medical treatments, people are virtually unanimous about the paramount importance of personal resourcefulness, personal support and self-belief in their recovery.

Peer support initiatives are probably the best evidence-based approach to foster these.
Download and review “Making the Case for Peer Support” from the Mental Health Commission of Canada here.

Contact me to talk about more resources that will help you get your program off the ground.  You can also email your questions to answers@cism.ca.

All of my ICISF courses are available online. Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Psychological Body Armor are the two courses that are most effectively taught online. 

Group Crisis Intervention is available online and provides online practices that are very relevant in today’s virtual environment.  In-person practice or practical training is a recommended companion to this course. 

The combined 3-day (27 hour) Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention course is available online.  My suggestion for this online training is to incorporate an evening session in advance of the three days in order to reach the required hours.  Three sequential 9-hour days online is difficult learning for anyone. 

Online training is very flexible in terms of scheduling and the required number of contact hours.  

Get in touch with us and talk about it.  All of your questions will be answered.  You can email answers@cism.ca as well if that works best for you.

Contact us to talk about it.

 Assisting Individuals in Crisis is the foundation course.  The skills taught in that course can be applied without the need for a comprehensive program or team.  In fact many participants think it should be a course offered in high school because of how useful it is to people throughout their lives.

The Group Crisis Intervention model recommends a team approach under the guidance of a mental health professional.  You are welcome to take this course however if you are not part of a team, some of the methods taught will not be applicable as they are based on working with others. 

If you want to understand the ICISF model, then taking the training is a great way to do that.   Then with a more intimate understanding of the material, you will find it much easier to make your case with an employer or manager who is resistant because they are not well informed.

Online training starts at $350 + applicable taxes for the 2-day courses.  

For in-person training taught at your facility, travel, number of participants, multiple course bookings and your organization’s core functions will be considered in the final agreed pricing.  

For more intimate or executive classes, let’s have a conversation.  Request a quote here.

We will come to you with all materials required for a positive and productive learning experience.

Various formats can be arranged depending on your group’s needs, size, and availability. I.C.I.S.F. courses require specific contact hours with the instructor.  Typically courses run over  two sequential days.  A series of evening classes can also be arranged.

The most effective learning will take place with classes of between 10 and 30.  The Assisting Individuals in Crisis course may be taught to smaller classes, however, in order to have the best outcome for the Group Crisis Intervention course, a group of at least 6 is required.

Larger classes can be accommodated with the addition of an assisting instructor who is also I.C.I.S.F approved, or a mental health professional.  

Contact me for more information.

If you want to take a course, go to the courses page and sign up for one.  I will get in touch with you when there are adequate registrations to ensure the course will run.  Following that, payment can be made online by credit card or e-transfer.  About one week before the course, you will receive a link to download your manual and the joining instructions for the video call.

Use the Contact Page of this site to request a quote for your group or organization.  I will get in touch to have a conversation and finalize details.

CISM is an essential part of every Peer Support Program.  Why is this?  

If your program of peer support doesn’t provide your peer helpers or team members with the skills to assist people in crisis, it is like having no brakes on a car going downhill.  

Critical Incident Stress Management is a system that empowers people to help others through a crisis.  Then if further professional care is indicated, your trained peers make referrals and support the person in accessing the higher level of care they require.

It’s important to remember that “peer support” is defined by who provides it, not by what is provided.  A clinician does not provide “peer support” to a client.  A manager does not provide “peer support” to a subordinate, and a peer does not provide therapy to a peer.

Peers provide peer support to their colleagues who are in need.

Starting a team? Contact us or send an email to answers@cism.ca and let’s get your program underway.