DebriefingDebriefing

Dr. Jeanie Edwards-Gergen, Camp Director, Royal Family Kids’ Camps

Developing a Debriefing Developing a Debriefing Program at Royal Family Program at Royal Family

Kids CampKids Camp

Developing a Debriefing Developing a Debriefing Program at Royal Family Program at Royal Family

Kids CampKids Camp

Jeanie Edwards-GergenJeanie Edwards-Gergen

ProfessorProfessorPortland State UniversityPortland State University

Jeanie Edwards-GergenJeanie Edwards-Gergen

ProfessorProfessorPortland State UniversityPortland State University

Camp StatisticsCamp StatisticsCamp StatisticsCamp Statistics

l Camp is held for one weekCamp is held for one weekl Coed camp. Children ages 6-12Coed camp. Children ages 6-12l 26 boys and 26 girls26 boys and 26 girlsl Variety of ethnic, cultural, racial and Variety of ethnic, cultural, racial and

religious backgroundsreligious backgroundsl Many of the children have experienced Many of the children have experienced

serious neglect and abuseserious neglect and abuse

l Camp is held for one weekCamp is held for one weekl Coed camp. Children ages 6-12Coed camp. Children ages 6-12l 26 boys and 26 girls26 boys and 26 girlsl Variety of ethnic, cultural, racial and Variety of ethnic, cultural, racial and

religious backgroundsreligious backgroundsl Many of the children have experienced Many of the children have experienced

serious neglect and abuseserious neglect and abuse

Camp StatisticsCamp StatisticsCamp StatisticsCamp Statistics

Camp Staff by Gender

Females54%

Males46%

FemalesMales

Camp StatisticsCamp StatisticsCamp StatisticsCamp Statistics

Age of Staff at Royal Family Kids' Camp

17-2544%

26-3514%

36-5024%

51-606%

61+8%

U/A4%

17-25 26-35 36-50 51-60 61+ U/A

RFKC is an Emotional RFKC is an Emotional Experience for allExperience for all

RFKC is an Emotional RFKC is an Emotional Experience for allExperience for all

l Counselors and staff experience many Counselors and staff experience many emotionsemotions

l Difficulty with closureDifficulty with closurel Staff and counselors develop and nurture Staff and counselors develop and nurture

a bonda bondl After camp it may be difficult for staff to After camp it may be difficult for staff to

release emotionsrelease emotions

l Counselors and staff experience many Counselors and staff experience many emotionsemotions

l Difficulty with closureDifficulty with closurel Staff and counselors develop and nurture Staff and counselors develop and nurture

a bonda bondl After camp it may be difficult for staff to After camp it may be difficult for staff to

release emotionsrelease emotions

l Some counselors experience intense Some counselors experience intense feelings regarding the children and their feelings regarding the children and their difficultiesdifficulties

l Difficulties around not being able to see Difficulties around not being able to see the child again or have a picture of the the child again or have a picture of the childchild

l Some counselors experience intense Some counselors experience intense feelings regarding the children and their feelings regarding the children and their difficultiesdifficulties

l Difficulties around not being able to see Difficulties around not being able to see the child again or have a picture of the the child again or have a picture of the childchild

Why a DebriefingWhy a DebriefingWhy a DebriefingWhy a Debriefing

l Due to the many emotions experienced at Due to the many emotions experienced at camp and stress from camper behaviorcamp and stress from camper behavior

l Lack of skills to deal with releaseLack of skills to deal with releasel Difficulties with closureDifficulties with closurel Combination of exhaustion and feelings of Combination of exhaustion and feelings of

hopelessnesshopelessnessl Counselors need a way to experience Counselors need a way to experience

closureclosurel Debriefing is Biblical!Debriefing is Biblical!

l Due to the many emotions experienced at Due to the many emotions experienced at camp and stress from camper behaviorcamp and stress from camper behavior

l Lack of skills to deal with releaseLack of skills to deal with releasel Difficulties with closureDifficulties with closurel Combination of exhaustion and feelings of Combination of exhaustion and feelings of

hopelessnesshopelessnessl Counselors need a way to experience Counselors need a way to experience

closureclosurel Debriefing is Biblical!Debriefing is Biblical!

The ProcessThe ProcessThe ProcessThe Process

l Developed a pre-camp surveyDeveloped a pre-camp surveyl Analyzed the needs to be metAnalyzed the needs to be metl Reviewed current literatureReviewed current literaturel Sought out existing modelsSought out existing modelsl Developed our debriefing programDeveloped our debriefing programl Developed a post survey to evaluate Developed a post survey to evaluate

debriefing processdebriefing process

l Developed a pre-camp surveyDeveloped a pre-camp surveyl Analyzed the needs to be metAnalyzed the needs to be metl Reviewed current literatureReviewed current literaturel Sought out existing modelsSought out existing modelsl Developed our debriefing programDeveloped our debriefing programl Developed a post survey to evaluate Developed a post survey to evaluate

debriefing processdebriefing process

Examples of Debriefing Examples of Debriefing ModelsModels

Examples of Debriefing Examples of Debriefing ModelsModels

l Multiple Stressor Debriefing ModelMultiple Stressor Debriefing Modell Critical Incident Stress Model (CISD)Critical Incident Stress Model (CISD)l International Training Partners ModelInternational Training Partners Modell Critical Event Debriefing (CED)Critical Event Debriefing (CED)l San Bernardino Counseling Team ModelSan Bernardino Counseling Team Model

l Multiple Stressor Debriefing ModelMultiple Stressor Debriefing Modell Critical Incident Stress Model (CISD)Critical Incident Stress Model (CISD)l International Training Partners ModelInternational Training Partners Modell Critical Event Debriefing (CED)Critical Event Debriefing (CED)l San Bernardino Counseling Team ModelSan Bernardino Counseling Team Model

Phase III: Sharing coping strategies

Multiple Stressor Debriefing ModelMultiple Stressor Debriefing Model

Phase I: Disclosing of events

Phase II: Feeling and reactions

Phase IV: Termination

Used by Red Cross

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Model (CISD)Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Model (CISD)

Used by NW Medical Teams

7 Phases

Introduction

Fact phaseThought phase

Reaction phaseSymptom phase

Teaching phaseRe-entry phase

International Training PartnersInternational Training PartnersInternational Training PartnersInternational Training Partners

l Procedure (facts)Procedure (facts)l Process (feelings)Process (feelings)l Perspective (objective Perspective (objective

Look)Look)l Prayer Prayer

(acknowledging God (acknowledging God as healer)as healer)

l Planning (future)Planning (future)

Critical Event Debriefing (CEDCritical Event Debriefing (CED))Critical Event Debriefing (CEDCritical Event Debriefing (CED))

l Developed for SoldiersDeveloped for Soldiersl Begins 8-72 hours after Begins 8-72 hours after

traumatic eventtraumatic eventl Conducted by a Conducted by a

professional team of professional team of debriefersdebriefers

l Developed for SoldiersDeveloped for Soldiersl Begins 8-72 hours after Begins 8-72 hours after

traumatic eventtraumatic eventl Conducted by a Conducted by a

professional team of professional team of debriefersdebriefers

San Bernardino Counseling San Bernardino Counseling Team Model Team Model

San Bernardino Counseling San Bernardino Counseling Team Model Team Model

l IntroductionIntroductionl FactFactl ThoughtThoughtl ReactionReactionl SymptomsSymptomsl Unfinished BusinessUnfinished Businessl TeachingTeachingl Wrap-upWrap-upl Round RobinRound Robin

l IntroductionIntroductionl FactFactl ThoughtThoughtl ReactionReactionl SymptomsSymptomsl Unfinished BusinessUnfinished Businessl TeachingTeachingl Wrap-upWrap-upl Round RobinRound Robin

Review of Debriefing ModelsReview of Debriefing ModelsReview of Debriefing ModelsReview of Debriefing Models

QRules they had in commonRules they had in commonl ConfidentialityConfidentialityl Voluntary participationVoluntary participationl No breaksNo breaksl Not a counseling sessionNot a counseling sessionl Not a time for criticismNot a time for criticism

QRules they had in commonRules they had in commonl ConfidentialityConfidentialityl Voluntary participationVoluntary participationl No breaksNo breaksl Not a counseling sessionNot a counseling sessionl Not a time for criticismNot a time for criticism

What we didWhat we didWhat we didWhat we did

Taught our staff about Taught our staff about debriefingdebriefing

Taught our staff about Taught our staff about debriefingdebriefing

l Telling of a storyTelling of a storyl Complete with experiences and feelings Complete with experiences and feelings

from individual points of viewfrom individual points of viewl Debriefing is a Biblical concept:Debriefing is a Biblical concept:l Acts 14:27Acts 14:27l Acts 11:4ffActs 11:4ffl Ephesians 6:21Ephesians 6:21l Thessalonians 3: 1-6Thessalonians 3: 1-6

l Telling of a storyTelling of a storyl Complete with experiences and feelings Complete with experiences and feelings

from individual points of viewfrom individual points of viewl Debriefing is a Biblical concept:Debriefing is a Biblical concept:l Acts 14:27Acts 14:27l Acts 11:4ffActs 11:4ffl Ephesians 6:21Ephesians 6:21l Thessalonians 3: 1-6Thessalonians 3: 1-6

Trained Small Group Trained Small Group FacilitatorsFacilitators

Trained Small Group Trained Small Group FacilitatorsFacilitators

l The idea of debriefing is such a complex The idea of debriefing is such a complex process, and requires a number of process, and requires a number of important skills, which include an effective important skills, which include an effective Facilitator to collaborate the events of the Facilitator to collaborate the events of the processprocess

l The idea of debriefing is such a complex The idea of debriefing is such a complex process, and requires a number of process, and requires a number of important skills, which include an effective important skills, which include an effective Facilitator to collaborate the events of the Facilitator to collaborate the events of the processprocess

Established Debriefing Established Debriefing FormatFormat

Established Debriefing Established Debriefing FormatFormat

Procedure (Sharing Facts)Procedure (Sharing Facts) Process (Sharing Feelings)Process (Sharing Feelings) Perspective (Reflect on your own Perspective (Reflect on your own

reactions)reactions) Prayer (Giving feelings/situations to God)Prayer (Giving feelings/situations to God) Planning (Looking to the future)Planning (Looking to the future)

Procedure (Sharing Facts)Procedure (Sharing Facts) Process (Sharing Feelings)Process (Sharing Feelings) Perspective (Reflect on your own Perspective (Reflect on your own

reactions)reactions) Prayer (Giving feelings/situations to God)Prayer (Giving feelings/situations to God) Planning (Looking to the future)Planning (Looking to the future)

Ground RulesGround RulesGround RulesGround Rules

m Voluntary ParticipationVoluntary Participationm Remain in room until meeting is overRemain in room until meeting is overm No breaks will be takenNo breaks will be takenm No cell phones/pagers are allowedNo cell phones/pagers are allowedm Total confidentialityTotal confidentialitym Format is rotation clockwise orderFormat is rotation clockwise orderm Speak only about your own experiences and Speak only about your own experiences and

feelingsfeelings

m Voluntary ParticipationVoluntary Participationm Remain in room until meeting is overRemain in room until meeting is overm No breaks will be takenNo breaks will be takenm No cell phones/pagers are allowedNo cell phones/pagers are allowedm Total confidentialityTotal confidentialitym Format is rotation clockwise orderFormat is rotation clockwise orderm Speak only about your own experiences and Speak only about your own experiences and

feelingsfeelings

Ground RulesGround Rules

mEach member listen attentivelyEach member listen attentivelymBe courteous do not interruptBe courteous do not interruptmDo not respond to other’s experiencesDo not respond to other’s experiencesmVaried feelings and experiences are Varied feelings and experiences are

normalnormalmRespect that everyone is equal though at Respect that everyone is equal though at

a different place with the weeka different place with the week

Role of FacilitatorsRole of FacilitatorsRole of FacilitatorsRole of Facilitators

mEncourage confidentialityEncourage confidentialitymEncourage active participationEncourage active participationmFacilitate group discussionFacilitate group discussionmFocus on participants needs- not team Focus on participants needs- not team

needsneedsmListen, inform, stabilize and recoverListen, inform, stabilize and recover

mEncourage confidentialityEncourage confidentialitymEncourage active participationEncourage active participationmFacilitate group discussionFacilitate group discussionmFocus on participants needs- not team Focus on participants needs- not team

needsneedsmListen, inform, stabilize and recoverListen, inform, stabilize and recover

Stages of debriefingStages of debriefingStages of debriefingStages of debriefing

m Procedure:Procedure:m ““What was was the best part of camp”What was was the best part of camp”m ““What was the hardest part of camp”What was the hardest part of camp”

m Process:Process:m ““What thoughts/reactions/ emotions didWhat thoughts/reactions/ emotions did

you have in conjunction with your highsyou have in conjunction with your highs

and lows of the week”and lows of the week”

m Procedure:Procedure:m ““What was was the best part of camp”What was was the best part of camp”m ““What was the hardest part of camp”What was the hardest part of camp”

m Process:Process:m ““What thoughts/reactions/ emotions didWhat thoughts/reactions/ emotions did

you have in conjunction with your highsyou have in conjunction with your highs

and lows of the week”and lows of the week”

Stages of debriefingStages of debriefingStages of debriefingStages of debriefing

m Perspective:Perspective:m ““What would you have done differently orWhat would you have done differently orm changed during your week at camp?”changed during your week at camp?”

m Prayer:Prayer:m Group facilitator’s leads in prayerGroup facilitator’s leads in prayer

m Planning:Planning:m ““Have you grown through this experience?”Have you grown through this experience?”m ““What do you hope to take from this experience to betterWhat do you hope to take from this experience to betterm yourself and bring back to camp next year?”yourself and bring back to camp next year?”m “ “Where do you see yourself next year?”Where do you see yourself next year?”m “ “What Change would you make to better serve our kids?”What Change would you make to better serve our kids?”

m Perspective:Perspective:m ““What would you have done differently orWhat would you have done differently orm changed during your week at camp?”changed during your week at camp?”

m Prayer:Prayer:m Group facilitator’s leads in prayerGroup facilitator’s leads in prayer

m Planning:Planning:m ““Have you grown through this experience?”Have you grown through this experience?”m ““What do you hope to take from this experience to betterWhat do you hope to take from this experience to betterm yourself and bring back to camp next year?”yourself and bring back to camp next year?”m “ “Where do you see yourself next year?”Where do you see yourself next year?”m “ “What Change would you make to better serve our kids?”What Change would you make to better serve our kids?”

Stages of DebriefingStages of DebriefingStages of DebriefingStages of Debriefing

mStaff Questionnaire:Staff Questionnaire:m A chance to give written feedback, A chance to give written feedback, m suggestions and evaluative suggestions and evaluative

comments.comments.m A change to share frustrations, A change to share frustrations,

concernsconcernsm and to ‘let go’and to ‘let go’

mStaff Questionnaire:Staff Questionnaire:m A chance to give written feedback, A chance to give written feedback, m suggestions and evaluative suggestions and evaluative

comments.comments.m A change to share frustrations, A change to share frustrations,

concernsconcernsm and to ‘let go’and to ‘let go’