Robert Intveld, Director, RDA

Robert Douglas and Associates (RDA), is located in Ocean, NJ, USA. 

Why you should listen to me.

I have been through many trainings over the years. While I cannot speak to other trainer's motivation, I can tell you mine.

If you do not have a sound foundation of training for this line of work, you risk injury.  You will, nonetheless, be affected.

Like many of you I have provided debriefings for years before being formally trained. One of my first incidents was the first bombing of the World Trade Center in NY.  We provided basic crisis intervention with a flavoring of the Mitchell Model. The Mitchell Model primarily circulated within the first responder community as it was designed to. At the time that didn't mean much to me. What I did know was that the EAP workplace interventions I was doing worked very well. I learned afterwards that the basic tenets of the intervention were founded within the Mitchell model.

I had been very fortunate to work for an internal EAP over the years who had a strong clinical focus backed by a budget to send me around the country when an incident disrupted the workplace. One day it took me to Oklahoma City. I led this 2-day intervention with a colleague of mine (this was her first intervention).  I used a similar format as the WTC intervention. By all accounts it was successful for what it was designed to do and while we received an abundance of positive recognition for our work, I returned with secondary trauma. I thought at that time what I needed was formalized training in this process and I enrolled in the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation's training. My experience with the ICISF is detailed in the training, but what I will tell you is that I left more confused. This feedback continues today.

You see, all ICISF trainings have fallen short for the type of work EAPs provide in response to tragedy. Not that they weren't helpful, just incomplete. I have challenged the institutions who put forth these trainings to sit at the table with each other (EAPA and ICISF) and develop a unified approach. While efforts have been made, the end product has never been delivered. I later gave up on that quest and wrote my own training - Tragedy in the Workplace, the first edition of this training.  The feedback has always been positive and left on the home page for your review.

The following experiences are used and referenced throughout the course of the training.

Key CIS Responses

While all incidents are powerful and leave lasting impressions, some responses were called upon in greater frequency in developing the overall approach to this training. They include onsite responses to:

First Bombing of the World Trade Center, NY

Oklahoma City Bombing

Columbine High School Shooting

Crash of Egypt Airline 990

Military

9/11, NY/NJ- I was also a victim of these attacks as our office was at the World Financial District, across the street from the WTC.  I responded with our medical department and initially set up triage stations at the base of the WTC. Being a victim/responder/interventionist provided a unique perspective.

...and the many  organizations around the country both large and small that didn't receive much media attention, but dramatically altered the lives of individuals in profound ways.