Debriefing

"Most aid/development workers report that, on the whole, their time overseas was a good experience, and they are glad they went. Despite this, most aid/development workers work overseas for at least six months (as well as many of those wo have shorter trips overseas) report that they find it helpful to receive a personal debriefing session on their return home. This is especially true of those who have had stressful experiences overseas, and those who find it difficult to readjust to their own culture after returning home." - Debbie Lovall Hawker - Clinical Psychologist/Interhealth

Some agencies/organisations offer their returnees personal/operational debriefings. Ask your organisation if this is provided for you.

Anonymous feedback from an aid worker about personal debriefing:

"I thought beforehand that it was going to be a waste of time, but I found that acutally it was very helpful to be able to talk about everything, however small, that had happened"  - Taken from People in Aid, Debriefing Aid workers and missionaries - Comprehensive manual

Comhlámh believes that personal debriefings can be extremely helpful to returnees and we offers both personal debriefing services and critical incidence debriefing service to returned development workers. 

Debriefing's are one to one meetings and generally last 2-3hours. They are held in private and are totally confidential.

If you would like to avail of a debriefing please do not hesitate to contact Marie Therese at marietherese@comhlamh.org or deirdre@comhlamh.org

Group debriefing services are available upon request to marietherese@comhlamh.org