Debriefing

Comhlámh believes that personal debriefings can be highly beneficial on return from an overseas assignment. We offer an individual personal debriefing service for returned volunteers, development and humanitarian workers and missionaries who have worked overseas in a developing country for 3 months or longer.

Personal debriefings are distinguishable from programme or operational debriefings, which are primarily concerned with the work done on assignment and are conducted by the ‘sending agency’. A personal debriefing is concerned with how the whole overseas experience was for the individual and how they are finding the process of readjusting back home. The purpose is to help the individual to reflect on and process their overseas experiences and to bring about a sense of closure. It is good practice to receive both an operational and personal debriefing on your return. Some agencies offer personal/operational debriefings. Ask your organisation if this is provided for you.

• Debriefings are one-to-one meetings and generally last 2-3hours.
•  They are held in private and are totally confidential.
•  Debriefings follow a set structure and are conducted by Comhlámh staff members who have received specialist debriefing training in Dublin and London under the guidance of Debbie Lovell-Hawker (Clinical Psychologist with Interhealth).
• The charge to the individual for the debriefing service is €50.