Crucial Moments
Stories of Support in Times of Crisis
Crucial Moments is an unusual book. It is a mix of history, true stories, information, instructions, and guidance in the fields of Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and emotional trauma. Each lesson is designed to provide insights into crisis intervention. Each chapter offers stories that illustrate the principles and practices of crisis support. The stories will enhance your understanding of stress management, trauma, and supporting those in crisis. Some will certainly touch your heart.
An excerpt from “Crucial Moments”
“Tears from Heaven”
“There were a lot of people at the memorial service. I stood behind the old devil dogs wheel chair and looked across more caskets that I had ever seen in my life. I reached in my pocket and handed him a collection of Catholic medals and one quarter with a hole in it. I told him many years ago in the field behind my parent’s home I taped a quarter to a fence post at 100 yards. I laid my rifle down across a 55 gallon barrel and told my father to watch me punch a hole through that quarter. I got lucky and did. I made him a necklace with the quarter and as his health declined he added Catholic medals and wore it until the day he died. I told the old devil dog that this collection of medals helped my Dad get through 13 years of hell and maybe on this day it would help him. He clutched the medals in one hand and in the other was his wife’s hand. I don’t recall much about the service but I do recall asking myself how I ended up here and why me. Why was I given this privilege to be here? Why was I given this honor to be with this man on this day?”
“Crisis Intervention Steps”
“In the previous story the agents assisting the fire personnel had a very complex situation on their hands. There were multiple line-of-duty deaths and a number of the personnel had trauma in their backgrounds. The step-by-step procedures were present in the backdrop, but the agents used a considerable amount of innovation, such as Josey’s use of the quarters, key chains, and medals to break down barriers and gain trust.”