Head, Heart & Hand
CISM Team: Critical Incident Stress Management
P: 825.777.CISM (2476)
E: dave@cismteam.com
Meet Your Expert
Instructor: Dave Sawh, MA Psychology, CCISM
Bridging Operational Experience with Psychological Expertise
30+ Years of Multi-Disciplinary Experience: A career spanning over three decades within the Canadian correctional and justice systems, providing a rare perspective on long-term occupational stress.
Retired Forensic Psychologist: Specialized in high-risk assessments and crisis intervention, bringing clinical depth to every training session.
Certified CISM Instructor: Formally trained and certified to deliver both Individual and Group Crisis Intervention, ensuring all curriculum meets international standards for excellence.
Frontline Operational Roots: Deep practical experience serving as a Correctional Officer and Parole Officer, allowing for a peer-driven approach that resonates with first responders and frontline staff.
Strategic Program Developer: Proven track record in designing and implementing Critical Incident Response Programs (CIRP) for complex government agencies and high-risk industries.
Advanced Academic Foundation: Holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology, bridging the gap between academic research and practical, field-tested crisis management strategies.
Global Training Perspective: Extensive experience providing consultation and instruction to diverse audiences, from local Edmonton organizations to international agencies.
Expert Crisis Intervention Training & Program Development
Our team offers premier training and comprehensive support to set up your team and/or equip your team with the skills to effectively manage critical incidents. Our programs are uniquely certified by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and the University of Maryland's Department of Emergency Health Services, home to the world's first university-based certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM).
Our Core Offerings:
Certified Training Courses:
Assisting Individuals in Crisis (2 days)
Group Crisis Intervention (2 days)
GRIN (Group & Individual Crisis Intervention (3 days)
Advanced Individual Crisis Intervention (2 days)
These essential courses are available both virtually and in-person, providing flexible learning options to suit your needs.
Program Development & Guidance: Beyond training, we provide expert guidance to help you establish a robust crisis intervention program. This includes assistance with developing clear procedures, policies, and guidelines tailored to your organization.
Ongoing Consultation: We believe in your team's long-term success. That's why our team offers follow-up consultation to ensure your program remains effective and your team feels supported.
Future Training & Services:
We are committed to expanding our offerings to meet evolving needs:
Upcoming Courses:
ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Other advanced ICISF courses
Onsite Interventions: When critical incidents occur, our team can provide immediate onsite interventions, including Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and Crisis Management Briefing (CMB), to support your personnel.
While our in-house team is highly skilled, we also have the flexibility to bring in additional expertise from our trusted network of professionals for specific incident needs.
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an evidence-based, comprehensive system of crisis intervention designed to mitigate the psychological impact of traumatic events. It provides a structured process to support individuals affected by critical incidents, whether they are primary victims or secondary responders.
Functioning as a form of psychological first aid, CISM can be implemented before, during, and after a crisis. Its primary focus is on immediate support and intervention to help individuals cope with the intense stress and emotional challenges that often follow traumatic experiences.
Important Note: CISM is not a substitute for psychotherapy. While it plays a vital role in immediate support and enhancing resilience, it focuses on crisis stabilization and psychological first aid rather than long-term therapeutic treatment.
CISM encompasses a variety of interventions and support mechanisms, all aimed at helping individuals manage the psychological effects of traumatic events and foster greater resilience in the face of adversity.
The Benefits of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)
Implementing a robust Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program offers significant advantages for individuals, teams, and entire organizations:
Reduced Trauma: CISM interventions are designed to actively mitigate the immediate and long-term psychological impact of critical incidents on individuals and teams, helping to prevent or lessen the severity of traumatic stress.
Improved Resilience: Through proactive strategies and effective support systems, CISM helps individuals and groups develop stronger coping mechanisms, significantly enhancing their overall resilience to future stressors and adverse events.
Enhanced Performance: By addressing the psychological well-being of personnel, CISM supports individuals and teams in maintaining focus and performing their duties effectively, even when operating in high-stress, demanding environments.
Organizational Support: CISM empowers organizations to cultivate a genuinely supportive culture and establish a well-defined, compassionate response framework for managing critical incidents, demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of their most valuable asset—their people.
Who Benefits from CISM?
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is an essential intervention widely adopted across professions and settings that frequently encounter high-stress and potentially traumatic events. Our CISM training and support are invaluable for:
Emergency & First Responder Services: Police, Firefighters, Paramedics, Correctional Officers, and Military Personnel, who are routinely exposed to critical incidents.
Healthcare Workers: Including doctors, nurses, and all medical staff on the front lines.
Mental Health Professionals & Social Workers: Enhancing their capacity to manage crisis situations and support their clients.
Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and universities, preparing staff to respond to campus emergencies.
High-Risk Industries: Such as the Oil Industry and Construction, where serious incidents can occur.
Transportation & Logistics: Airports and Aviation Staff, ensuring preparedness for unforeseen events.
Essentially, CISM is beneficial for ANY setting where a critical incident may occur, providing the framework and skills to mitigate psychological impact and foster resilience.
We are proud to offer our courses to professionals for CEU (Continuing Education Units), supporting ongoing professional development and certification.
Integrating CISM with Your Existing Support Systems
Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) is designed to seamlessly integrate with and enhance your current Employee Assistance Program (EAP), rather than replace it. CISM provides specialized, immediate crisis intervention that complements the broader scope of services offered by EAPs, creating a more robust and comprehensive support network for your employees.
While Peer Support describes individuals who offer invaluable assistance, it's important to note that peer supporters may not always possess formal training in crisis intervention. Their strength lies in shared experience and empathy.
In contrast, CISM team members are specifically required to be qualified in crisis intervention. This ensures that individuals providing CISM support have undergone rigorous training in structured, evidence-based techniques to effectively manage the psychological aftermath of traumatic events. This distinction guarantees a high level of expertise and a standardized approach to crisis response.
Contact Us
Interested in training your CISM Team or obtaining Continuing Education Units (CEU)? Would you like us to do a Crisis Intervention? Reach out and we will be in touch shortly. Happy to assist! 🙂