International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Margaret Griffo
Over the last six years I have had the privilege of becoming a member of the Alaska (AK) CISM team. I found my way to ICISF by attending required initial training as a first responder AK Police Fire Chaplain. Even before I became a chaplain, I desired to be able to integrate the power of the human canine bond to enhance coping after critical incidents. I met with the chaplain organization and offered to support. It was made clear to me that I would need to find and pursue advanced instruction and standards before my fluffy dog, Waverly, would even be considered to be considered for a role in the chaplaincy. At that time, we were a registered therapy dog team. I quickly found that role was much better suited to routine situations and “visits.” I was fortunate that my stubbornness led me to start training as an unlikely police fire chaplain at the same time that I searched for other options for expanding the work with a dog in critical incidents. That is how I found NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines. The fantastic chaplain and canine crisis response training overlapped significantly and seemed to fit hand in glove. When Waverly became a certified NATIONAL Crisis Response Canine, I was requested to respond with her to many non-chaplain related critical incidents locally as well as nationally declared disasters. Eventually I became a credentialed chaplain. Most often I responded without Waverly to death and trauma scenes. I am so glad for the dual training experience because it became very clear to me why my wonderful, at that time pet therapy dog, should refrain from being on scene with me unless other supports and considerations were in place.
I continued to pursue all the CISM training I could. While taking Advanced Group course in my role as a NATIONAL Crisis Response Canine member, I requested permission to bring my certified canine to class. Dr. Naomi Paget allowed her to attend. Waverly and I were able to participate in role play, as well as the training. It was obvious in the role play that the canine brought some normalcy and something extra. I did not encourage her to engage with people during the mock debrief but she did support before and afterwards. During the debrief, which I did not want to disrupt, the dog exuded calm and normalcy as she lay at my feet. I could see the possibility of using a dog to bring normalcy and calm to CISM settings. Waverly and I then pursued and completed certification as Certified NATIONAL CISM Response Canines. She and I were fortunate enough that the AK CISM team was willing to give us a chance. The response has been very positive. We have been all over the huge state of Alaska and responded after medic plane crashes, other aviation disasters, local fire and police debriefs and defusing as well as for community responses, CMBs and numerous 1:1s. I have seen, heard, and even experienced the benefit of having a CISM response canine participate.
Experiencing the benefit of a CISM Response Canine sells the use of canines to participants and team members.
I recommend that a CISM team that wants to integrate canines into their CISM responses keep several things in mind. Foremost… the greatest concern about a canine in a CISD is the fact that they may disrupt or interfere with the process. That would be absolutely unacceptable! The chances of disruption are easy to mitigate if the team is well trained and understands the CISM methodologies. Training is not only for the human but also for the canine which should be calm, patient, and caring around people experiencing stress. We have all heard of, or know of dogs that were allowed to participate that jumped on people, whined, ran around etc. Those kinds of behaviors are not suitable for CISM or any kind of critical incident stress intervention. A certified NATIONAL CISM Response canine is evaluated for skills, behavior and temperament. The skills and experience in CISM of the handler are also checked. Will the handler help the rest of the team understand the role and scope of work for the canine? Will they explain and/or ask for input from the team as to when the canine will engage with the participants? What will happen if the canine needs to leave the room etc.? Will the canine draw attention to one person versus the group process? When should the canine engage? There should be consideration of how to respond when a service dog belonging to one of the participants is present. How about when people express fear, discomfort or allergy concerns with the canine in the room. Another major often overlooked area is the welfare of the canine. These sentient, loving, giving creatures are also impacted by the feelings in a room. Ethical treatment and understanding and responding to the need of the canine is stressed. These and other concerns need to be understood and addressed before hand.
So what are the benefits of having a CISM response canine present? This will be anecdotal but the benefits are obvious. When the participants show up for an intervention, they usually come right to the canine. The initial connection is made with the canine, team member and soon with other participants. Stress levels seem to decrease. As we enter the room there is a connection between people that is positive and calm in addition to the connection based on their critical incident. During the CISM event some people request for the canine to be beside them or support them. That support is offered to enhance the experience. However, there has to be a judgment made by the handler regarding timing and how the movement of the canine may influence the rest of the process. The canine should not be a way to deflect feeling and sharing of thoughts. If the dog stays near the handler, and as mine frequently does… and stretches out in the middle of the circle sleeping peacefully, that brings a sense of calm, safety and normalcy to the group. It is possible that mirror neurons work to mirror the calm of the dog for the participants. Another known benefit of being with a kind dog is the increase in people’s cortisol levels. Higher cortisol (love hormone) directly lead to feeling good and connected. I won’t share the secret that these special dogs somehow know who needs them, because as a CISM team member you do not want to call people out in a group or let the canine do that. Yet, if you are fortunate to know your canines, it can be helpful in encouraging a 1:1 follow-up or determining possible referrals. I have also found that at the end of a successful group CISM procedure that people will either congregate with other participants or start to talk and connect, and/or they will come over to the canine and reconnect with the canine. It is a safe, comfortable way to initiate a follow up.
The AK CISM team and the AK Police Fire Chaplains routinely request the presence of a canine. There have been so many positive comments and recognized benefits. Recently the Municipality of Anchorage recognized the benefit of having one of the extensively trained canines and now approve the chaplaincy to have a Chaplain K9. This has been very helpful in providing the listening, caring, nonjudgmental and nontalking benefit the canine brings during prevention, intervention and postvention.
I hope you indulge me in a more specific personal story about Waverly. This story is absolutely untraceable. A business security team, responded to a completed suicide on their property. The NATIONAL Crisis Response Canines were requested as a standalone service. Two of us responded. One peer had his black lab and I had my fluffy Waverly. There were about 9 people in a small office. Waverly immediately went over to a man who was sitting, outwardly calm and smiling. My thought was that he was okay (ugh!). Waverly stayed with him the entire time we were in the room. She looked lovingly in his eyes, handed him her paw and just stayed with him. I was slightly jealous of my friend who had the lab that checked in on everyone else. The other people were crying, sharing and talking. Waverly just sat with the quiet man with the smile on his face. I trusted her to know what she felt the need to do. I had the opportunity to arrange and participate in a CISD for this same group two days later. That is when I learned Waverly had selected and focused on the person very significantly impacted by this suicide. The man was alone, right there, trying to hold onto the person when the person jumped. During the debriefing, Waverly again wanted to be with “her” gentleman. She stayed by his side. He found talking very difficult but when she lay her head on his lap and he petted her his words flowed.
Margaret K Griffo, MA, CCC/slp, CCISMDegree in Communication Disorders AK Police Fire Chaplain-First Responder
Certified NATIONAL Crisis Response Canine Team
AK CISM Team
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