Research suggests a CIR prevents Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from developing by helping staff understand and manage their Acute Stress Response shortly after a potentially traumatic incident. Best practice indicates a CIR should take place within the first few days or so after the incident. As such, Associated Employee Assistance will try to organise a response within 72 hours of being contacted, depending on the availability of our practitioner and your staff.
Counselling sessions are a different service – they provide emotional support for a variety of concerns, but are not an immediate response which can be necessary in these circumstances. In addition, a counsellor tends to focus on treatment for resulting trauma or distress, rather than psychological first aid to prevent these effects from occurring.
