Holding Space: Trauma-Informed Psychological Debriefing in Healthcare

Date: 21 October, Wednesday | Time: 09:00 - 12:00 | Venue: Academia Room, L1-S4

Speakers: Assoc Prof Shirlyn Neo Hui Shan, Ms Ng Min Yu & Mr Daniel Ho

Programme Synopsis: 

This session introduces Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) as a guiding framework for facilitating psychological debriefs that are safe, ethical, and responsive to diverse staff needs. Moving beyond prescriptive models, the session reframes debriefing as a relational, reflective, and reflexive practice, grounded in the principles of empowerment, safety, trust, cultural humility, choice, and collaboration. This underscores the recognition of “the self of the clinician” in providing safe and effective care without compromising staff well-being and exacerbating staff burnout due to emotional demands that arise as part of the work.  

Drawing from clinical practice within ICU settings, participants will gain insight into how TIC can shape both the process and ethos of debriefing, creating spaces that support meaning-making, emotional processing, and team cohesion.

Programme Details:

This session will be delivered through a blended didactic and experiential format

1. Conceptual Foundations - Introduction to key principles of Trauma-Informed Care:

• Safety
• Trust
• Choice
• Collaboration
• Empowerment
• Cultural Humility

Participants will explore how these principles inform the design and facilitation of psychological debriefs within their own organisational contexts. The process of reflectivity and reflexivity will also be discussed in the context and recognition of the clinician’s self in relation to the group.

2. Practice Illustration (ICU Context)

A case-based walkthrough of a psychological debrief conducted in an ICU setting, highlighting the practical and relational factors for consideration - structure of debrief, facilitation of emotional safety, management of group dynamics and navigation of distress and silence

3. Experiential Component (Optional, if time permits)

Participants will engage in a guided reflective exercise simulating elements of a psychological debrief, offering first-hand insight to the participant experience and the role of the facilitator

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand the core principles of Trauma-Informed Care and their relevance to psychological debriefing
• Better appreciate the relational process and significance of the reflexivity within the clinician in supporting psychological debriefs
• Apply TIC principles to design and facilitate safe and effective debrief sessions

Achievement of learning outcomes can be assessed through a pre- and post-session survey, measuring participants’ - understanding of psychological debriefing, familiarity with Trauma-Informed Care principles and confidence in applying TIC to practice.

Target Audience

Healthcare professionals across disciplines (e.g., doctors, nurses, allied health, medical social workers) interested in staff support, reflective and reflexive practice, and trauma-informed approaches.