What is a critical incident debriefing?
A facilitated group or one-to-one process that gives staff space to process a traumatic event, validate their reactions, learn how to look after themselves, and access ongoing support if needed.
Critical Incident Debriefing
Expert support for teams after a traumatic event
Traumatic events can strike without warning and affect individuals, teams and entire organisations. LKC Counselling offers immediate, compassionate and expert support when it matters most.
Onsite across the UK or online via Microsoft Teams & Zoom.
Support when your team needs it most
I qualified as a counsellor in 2022, and have since undertaken further training to deliver support in response to a critical incident or traumatic event affecting a team. I have previously provided this service through BUPA, and I am now able to offer it directly from LKC Counselling.
You are welcome to retain my details to use as and when an incident occurs. I'm also happy to discuss my service — either as a facilitator or to provide counselling to your staff — in a free 30 minute chat.
Your staff don't need to be directly involved in the incident to be affected by it.
What counts as a critical incident
What is a critical incident?
A critical incident is any event that affects a workplace or community deeply. LKC Counselling can help you navigate the complex feelings such events bring on and support you and your team to move forward.
- A natural disaster
- A workplace accident
- A local incident with media involvement
- Redundancy
- The sudden death of a colleague or customer, on- or offsite
A trusted method
Where the method comes from
The method was first developed for use with military combat veterans and then civilian first responders — police, fire, ambulance, emergency workers and disaster rescuers. It has since been adapted and used virtually everywhere there is a need to address traumatic impact in people's lives.
Each person may have a different reaction, but there will also be commonality. Research has shown that support is best delivered 48–96 hours after the incident; however, this is not always possible, and any support can be useful to reduce the risk of long-term mental health conditions.
What we offer
What the process involves
Through facilitating a group process, staff can feel less isolated and connections within the team can grow following a difficult event. Support typically includes group debriefings, one-to-one counselling and psychoeducation — delivered by trained clinicians to help organisations manage trauma effectively, reduce long-term impact and foster a culture of care and resilience.
Space to process
- A safe place to talk about what happened
- Validating and normalising natural emotional reactions
- Reducing isolation through shared experience
Practical guidance
- How to look after yourself in the immediate aftermath
- Psychoeducation on common trauma responses
- Coping strategies for the days and weeks ahead
Ongoing support
- One-to-one counselling for individuals as needed
- Signposting to further care
- Follow-up call with management four weeks on
Helping your team return to business as usual
For companies, this gives staff the opportunity to receive support, helping employees return to business as usual as quickly and effectively as possible following the incident.
Critical incidents can cause strong emotional reactions and responses that affect group cohesion, productivity and morale. Early, well-facilitated support helps to mitigate these impacts.
How it's delivered
Onsite or online, group or one-to-one
Sessions can be undertaken onsite at your premises, or online over Microsoft Teams or Zoom. We offer either one-to-one support or a facilitated group, tailored to what will best support your staff.
As a trained therapist, supervisor and counselling trainer, I have experience with many different forms of critical incidents as a group facilitator and remain flexible to accommodate your organisation, your incident and your circumstances.
- Groups — up to 7 individuals (online or onsite), lasting 2 hours.
- One-to-one — up to 50 minutes.
- Virtual groups — no more than 3 people to a computer.
Questions employers often ask
When should a debriefing take place?
Research suggests support is best delivered 48–96 hours after the incident. Where that isn't possible, support delivered later can still help reduce the risk of long-term mental health difficulties.
Is it delivered onsite or online?
Both. Sessions can take place at your premises, or remotely via Microsoft Teams or Zoom, as either one-to-one support or a facilitated group.
How much does it cost?
Onsite: £150 per hour per counsellor, minimum 4 hours, plus reasonable travel. Remote via Teams: £150 per hour with no minimum. A follow-up call with management 4 weeks after the debrief is included.
Talk to Laura about your team
Please reach out for a discussion on how best I can support your team. I'm happy to offer a free 30 minute chat to explore what would help most — either as a critical incident facilitator or to provide counselling to your staff.