Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
Professional support following critical or traumatic events
Critical incidents can overwhelm even the most experienced and resilient people. Exposure to traumatic events can disrupt sleep, concentration, emotional regulation, and overall functioning — both at work and at home.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISD) provide a safe, structured space for teams to process what happened, understand their reactions, and receive practical support to aid recovery.
When delivered properly by trained providers, debriefings are an important early-intervention tool that supports mental health, resilience, and team functioning.
What Is a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing?
A Critical Incident Stress Debriefing is a voluntary, structured group conversation held after a critical incident.
Its purpose is to:
- Normalize stress reactions
- Reduce distress
- Provide education and support
- Identify individuals who may benefit from additional care
Debriefings are not therapy and are not investigative. They are focused on wellbeing, education, and connection to support.
When Is a Debriefing Recommended?
Debriefings are appropriate after events that overwhelm normal coping mechanisms. These may include:
- On the job death
- Suicide of a colleague
- Serious injury
- Disaster or multi-casualty incidents
- Killing or wounding an innocent person
- Significant incidents involving children
- Prolonged incidents, especially those involving loss of life
- Personally threatening situations
- Events with excessive media attention
- Any highly distressing or traumatic event
If a team is asking, “Should we be doing something after this?” — that is often a sign a debriefing may be helpful.
What Happens During a CISD?
What your team can expect:
- Participation by individuals directly impacted by the incident, ensuring shared understanding and support.
- A structured, professionally facilitated discussion that includes:
- A clear, non-judgmental walkthrough of what happened (without operational critique).
- Space to understand how individuals are responding and coping.
- Education about common stress reactions and what to expect in the days and weeks following the incident.
- Practical coping strategies and guidance on next steps.
- Information about normal trauma responses and healthy ways to manage stress.
Debriefings are voluntary, confidential, and designed to support participants. Sessions are tailored to the needs of each team and delivered in a safe setting.
Why Debriefings Matter
Critical Incident Stress Debriefings play an important role in early intervention and recovery because they:
Normalize reactions
Participants learn that reactions such as hypervigilance, sleep disruption, intrusive thoughts, emotional numbing, or irritability are common and expected — not signs of weakness.
Reduce isolation
Bringing the team together after trauma helps ensure no one feels alone in their experience.
Support early identification
Facilitators can recognize signs of escalating distress and help connect individuals to appropriate supports before a crisis develops.
Provide education and resources
Participants receive information about trauma responses, coping strategies, peer support, and available mental health resources.
Strengthen cohesion and trust
Debriefings create space for shared understanding and reinforce leadership’s commitment to psychological wellbeing.
Help prevent escalation
Addressing stress early can reduce the risk of longer-term psychological injury and support a healthier return to daily functioning.
Who Is This Service For?
Castillo Counselling currently offers Critical Incident Stress Debriefing services for:
- First responders (police, fire, paramedics, dispatch)
- Healthcare and emergency response teams
- Public safety and frontline workers
- Workplace teams following serious or traumatic incidents
- Peer support teams and leadership groups
Our Goal
The goal of a debriefing is simple but essential:
To help individuals understand that their reactions are normal, reduce distress, strengthen connection, and ensure the right supports are in place moving forward.
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) is available in person and virtually across Ontario.
Find out more information or request a Critical Incident Debriefing:
About the Provider
Andrea Castillo-Perez
RN, CPMHN, MA (Counselling Psychology), RP
EMDR Certified Therapist | Certified CISM Instructor
- Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO) and Registered Nurse (CNO) with over 25 years of experience supporting trauma, anxiety, PTSD, and first responders. Read Andrea’s bio.
- Provides Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) for teams following critical or traumatic events.
- Supports first responders, healthcare and emergency teams, workplaces, peer support and leadership groups.
- Also provides Critical Incident Stress Management training for individuals, peer support teams and organizations.