The Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador

Critical Incident Group Debriefing
2026-12-08 - 2026-12-09 | Online
Critical incident group debriefing (CIGD) is a short-term intervention designed to support people after a distressing or unusual event – something that falls outside of everyday experience and challenges our ability to cope.
In this workshop, you’ll learn how to facilitate a group debriefing and create a safe space where your participants can share their experiences, feel heard, and access helpful resources. The process helps normalize and validate people’s reactions, which promotes healing and connection.
You’ll also gain the skills to assess when CIGD is the right approach – and when it might not be the best option. With a strong focus on practice and skill-building, this training prepares you to respond effectively and compassionately in the aftermath of critical incidents.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion, participants should be able to:

Explain how people respond differently to the same event
Describe a framework for facilitating a group debriefing
Know the benefits and potential problems with group debriefing
Identify when critical incident group debriefing is appropriate
Practice participating in a critical incident debriefing

Method of Delivery
Presentation, video, case study exercises, experiential practice, personal reflection, small group discussions.

*Please allow only the registered individual(s) to view the materials.
Note: An e-manual for this workshop is included in purchase.

Some of the Topics Included

Definitions and Overview
Applying a Trauma-Informed Lens to the Intervention
Potential Responses After a Critical Incident
Your Role as a Facilitator
Issues of Co-facilitation
Critical Incident Response Considerations
Benefits and Challenges of Group Debriefing
Preparing for a Group Debriefing
CIGD Phases
Considerations for the Process

Target Audience
This is an intermediate level workshop intended for school personnel, social service and health care professionals, counsellors, social workers, managers, human resource professionals, and anyone who wants to learn how to facilitate a group debriefing after a tragic event.

Terms & Conditions
View our cancellation policy and other information regarding your live virtual workshop or for your in-person workshop.
The fees above are for a live event and do not include any copyright or licensing fees for creating recordings or reproductions of the workshop. Participants may not use AI tools or other technology to capture, transcribe, or replicate facilitator content without prior written consent. Exceptions may be granted for accessibility purposes—please contact us in advance to discuss accommodations.
This is a live virtual event, please check your system requirements prior to registering.
Participants will receive the Zoom meeting login details and information about viewing the live virtual workshop by email 3-4 calendar days prior to the date of the event.
Please note, payment is required in order to receive the login details.

Facilitator: John Koop Harder, MSW, RSW
John has been working as a therapist and trainer for over 20 years. He is a Registered Social Worker who holds a Master of Social Work degree. John is a contributing author of our Counselling Insights and Counselling in Relationships books. Much of John’s career has centred on working with children, youth, adults, and families dealing with crisis and trauma. While he has a diverse practice, he has particular interest and specialized experience in working with individuals and families impacted by mental health concerns, violence, post-war trauma recovery, gender/sexuality issues, and sexual abuse recovery. John’s work is also informed by his international experiences working with individuals and communities impacted by civil war and ethnic conflicts in Colombia, Albania, and Northern Ireland. John believes people are their own best experts and already have many of the skills, abilities, and competencies that will assist them to address the challenges influencing their lives. John is a warm and engaging facilitator who values interactive learning experiences. Read blogs written by John here.
