Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG 15 The Power of CISM AND Peer Support I believe Peer Support is a great philosophy. That is, the idea of peers supporting peers is strong. Who better than a firefighter to know the struggles and concerns of another firefighter? Who better than a firefighter to know how to cope with the challenges of the job? But Peer Support seems limited to identifying those with challenges and making sure they get the help they need. I believe Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) goes further. CISM goes beyond by providing real solutions to help mitigate the acute stressor most concerning the person involved. CISM offers tangible assistance via education in the areas of stress management, effective coping mechanisms and problem solving. In fact, here are some of the ways CISM goes beyond Peer Support... • Peer Support identifies; CISM assists • Peer Support is the bridge to other resources; CISM is one of those resources • Peer Support seems limited to working with individuals; CISM is useful for individuals and groups Unfortunately, CISM is viewed by some as a narrowly-focused, single resource for a group dealing with a major incident. But this is only one of the CISM tools called the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. There are four other tools that are part of the overall CISM umbrella. The tool most frequently used is an individual intervention using the SAFER model. CISM has gotten a bad rap over the years because of this limited understanding. The CISM SAFER model is a very robust intervention technique. Through this model, the interventionist is able to provide specific help to those in need. While referring someone who needs additional assistance is one outcome of the SAFER model, it is also possible that the person in need is able to move forward with some basic assistance from the crisis interventionist. Finally, CISM training provides insight into “why” we do what we do. CISM training gives background and presents underlying research and rationale. While some have chosen to pit Peer Support against CISM, I don’t see any conflict between the two. In fact, I believe they come together in a local-based crisis intervention team. This kind of team brings CISM skills and tools along with the relational strength of Peer Support. To learn more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support, visit www.firerescuesupport.com. Joseph A. LaCognata • Fire Rescue Support • Fire Service Chaplaincy A Ministry of Presence By Joseph A. LaCognata, Chaplain, Fire Rescue Support