BOS is a group-based intervention that provides participants the opportunity to receive and offer support in the context of the group as issues related to operational stress are processed. Different than classroom-based learning, a key feature of BOS is the care that will be given to developing the group. Therapeutic change is enhanced when group members are supported to know each other in a more in-depth and supportive fashion. We set rules of engagement for the group that allow it to be a safe place for issues to be processed. Once the group is established, specific information relevant to operational stress can be provided and its relevance explored by group participants. The group dynamic is a powerful change mechanism in and of itself.
BOS also uniquely combines theoretical and experiential learning procedures to enhance understanding of how to mitigate the effects of operational stress. Within each module, participants will receive education and the content of that module and its impact on participants will then be discussed and processed within the group.
Another important component of BOS is embedded peer support. A public safety employee who is in the latter stages of recovering from an operational stress injury will provide peer leadership within the context of the group. A vast research base has consistently highlighted over and over again the importance of peer support in terms of protection and recovery from the effects of operational stress.
Once the group is established, and the rules of engagement have been determined to support safe and effective function of the group, the next phase of work within BOS can begin.