A Guide to Psychological Debriefing: Managing Emotional Decompression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Frequently, people suffering trauma cannot get past the experience and develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Psychological debriefing (PD) is a process commonly used to prevent an individual from developing PTSD, allowing them to re-examine the event in a safe and controlled environment.
This book offers a practical introduction to PTSD and psychological debriefing, and outlines an enhanced model of PD: 'Emotional Decompression'. Structured like a deep-sea dive, it incorporates carefully planned safety stops for discussion and explanation on the way back to the 'surface' to avoid getting 'the bends'. The book presents a range of recovery models, from the 'simple' models developed by Williams and Horowitz to the more complex 'Snakes and Ladders' model developed by the author.
A Guide to Psychological Debriefing is a book for health practitioners, counsellors, psychologists and professionals working with clients suffering from PTSD, as well as students.

David Kinchin was medically retired from Thames Valley Police in 1992 suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. He has since worked as a writer, researcher and broadcaster to improve knowledge and understanding of this condition, and has published widely on the subject. He facilitates workshops and seminars on PTSD and Emotional Decompression for a variety of medical and educational organisations, and writes and presents training courses for the emergency services and other groups.