Safety & Violence Prevention

Critical Incident Group Debriefing

Note, this topic is presented by our partner company, Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI). Links on this page will direct you to our CTRI's site for more information and purchasing.

Critical incident group debriefing (CIGD) is a short‑term intervention for supporting people after distressing events. This workshop teaches you how to facilitate a group debriefing, create safe spaces for sharing, normalize reactions, and know when CIGD is appropriate.

4.9 (12,500+ enrolled)
View Upcoming Dates
Available for Private Delivery
Certificate Included

Facilitate Effective Group Debriefings

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

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
12,500+
Professionals Trained
4.3 Stars
Trustpilot Rating
500+
Organizations Served

Choose Your Format

Training options built for real-world needs.

Most Popular

Live Virtual Workshop

Interactive sessions with experienced facilitators.

From $549
/ per person
Learn from an experienced facilitator
Ask questions and get real-time guidance
Connect and learn alongside peers
Engage in discussions and practical exercises
Earn 6 CECs per day of training
Receive a certificate upon completion
View Upcoming Dates

Private Training

Personalized training solutions for your team.

$3300 per day
/ starting at
2 day
Bring a facilitator to your team – onsite or virtual
Personalize content to your context and priorities
Focus on your real challenges and scenarios
Engage in interactive discussion and practical application
Align your team around shared language and approaches
Build skills that translate directly into day-to-day work

What You'll Learn

Walk away with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful difference. The objectives below outline what you'll be equipped to do after completing this training.

Understand CIGD Through a Trauma‑Informed Lens

Learn what CIGD is and apply a trauma-informed lens to the intervention.

Manage Responses and Facilitate

Explore potential responses after a critical incident and the facilitator’s role.

Navigate Co‑Facilitation and Considerations

Understand co-facilitation issues and considerations during a critical incident response.

Assess Benefits and Challenges

Examine the benefits and challenges of group debriefing for participants.

Prepare for CIGD

Learn how to prepare for a group debriefing and structure the CIGD phases.

Guide the Debriefing Process

Review considerations for guiding the CIGD process to support healing.

Our Approach

Grounded in research, practical application, and real‑world experience.

Accessible

Clear, approachable learning without unnecessary jargon.

Applicable

Content designed for real‑world challenges and opportunities.

Engaging

Facilitators bring content to life through stories and examples.

Practical

Skills and tools designed for everyday use in your setting.

What People Are Saying

Insights from our participants.

"

I'll definitely be on the look out for further training from Achieve. Through other participants I have heard excellent things about other courses. The strengths of the training were the ease of access and the excellent trainer who knew their materials very well and included all participants in the lecture."

Katja Moehl

Bay St. George Residential Support Board

"

ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership has become one of our most trusted resources for all things related to workplace culture and leadership. We have utmost confidence that any of their resources and materials are well-researched, verified, and represents best-practice in the industry. "

Nicole McKeen

City of Kawartha Lakes

"

The best parts of the workshop were that the instructor was engaging, knowledgeable, and professional, and that the diverse group of participants provided interesting contributions and discussion."

Laine Jensen

Edmonton Police Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the training.

This training is for:

Leaders, managers, and supervisors
Human resources and people operations teams
Executive directors and senior leadership
Team leads and project managers
Employees moving into leadership roles
Professionals in corporate or organizational settings
Nonprofit and public sector administrators
Anyone who wants to strengthen their leadership and team skills

What is critical incident group debriefing?

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CIGD is a structured, short-term group intervention designed to support people after a distressing event – helping them feel heard, normalizing their reactions, and connecting them with appropriate resources.

Who is this training for?

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This training is for team leads, HR professionals, counsellors, educators, health care workers, and anyone who may need to facilitate a group response after a critical incident.

When is CIGD appropriate - and when isn't it?

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The workshop addresses this directly. CIGD works well in specific circumstances and is not always the right tool. Participants learn to assess when it is and isn't appropriate.

Is this training trauma-informed?

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Yes. A trauma-informed lens is central to the workshop. Participants learn how to create psychological safety during debriefings and avoid re-traumatizing participants.

Is this training available online or privately?

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Yes. CTRI offers this workshop in live, on-demand, and private formats. Contact us to arrange a session for your team or organization.

How does this differ from Crisis Response Planning training?

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Crisis Response Planning covers the full organizational response to a critical incident. CIGD focuses specifically on facilitating a group debriefing session. Many teams benefit from completing both.

Lead Compassionate Group Debriefings

Gain the tools to facilitate group debriefings that help people process trauma and build resilience after critical incidents. Explore training options or bring this workshop to your team.

View Upcoming Dates

Available for Private Delivery

Certificate Included

Private Training

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Custom Training for Your Team

We can deliver any of our training for your group, on your schedule.

How it works

  • Step 1 — Contact us to discuss your needs and choose a topic.
  • Step 2 — Talk pricing, and we'll work out a detailed proposal.
  • Step 3 — Confirm the details such as the facilitator and training date.

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