PBH EAP provides on-site critical incident debriefing for
its customers. Critical incident debriefing provides intervention,
stabilization and counseling services for employees and customers
following a traumatic workplace event. A critical incident
may be any situation which causes an unusually strong emotional
reaction in an individual, with the potential to adversely
affect their ability to function at work and home. Examples
of traumatic events may include:
Natural disasters
Violent acts in the community/world
Death of a coworker
Violence in the workplace
Robbery/Assault at the work site
PBH Employee Assistance will offer either through EAP staff
or network consultants, on-site Critical Incident Debriefing
intervention within 24-72 hours after the occurrence of the
traumatic event.
A designated company representative calls PBH EAP to request
services after a traumatic event.
The type of problem is discussed and the number of employees
involved. A date is set for debriefing by either the PBH
EAP staff counselor or network consultant.
Depending on the number of employees involved, PBH EAP
dispatches an individual or a critical incident team. These
individuals consist of EAP counseling staff, network consultant(s),
or both. This individual or team will work closely with
the customer's existing crisis team to coordinate services.
After learning the circumstances of the incident, the
counselor/consultant determines the optimum group size and
parameters under which the debriefing will be held.
For groups, the debriefing consists of each employee
voluntarily relating his or her perspective of the incident,
and his or her emotional response.
Those individuals showing a strong or unusual response
to the incident are approached privately by the counselor/consultant
to ascertain the individual's well being.
An in-person, one-on-one assessment is conducted with
appropriate employees.
After an evaluation, the counselor/consultant determines
how the employee's needs will be best served, and makes
referrals based on available community resources or mental
health services through the employee's health plan.
