- Erik De Soir (°1965) Military Career Major Erik De Soir graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1988 with a Ma... moreErik De Soir (°1965)
Military Career
Major Erik De Soir graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 1988 with a Master’s Degree in Social & Military Sciences. After fulfilling the Infantry School, he was assigned to the Liberation Battalion of the 1st Mechanised Brigade as a platoon commander.
In September 1991, he was called back at the Department of Behavioural Sciences of the Royal Military Academy, Chair of Psychology, to teach the courses of general and social psychology. In 1997 he fulfilled several military courses (e.g. the Course for Staff Techniques & the Company Commander's Course) before completing his military training with the Candidate Senior Officer Course at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence in Brussels. In 2009, he was assigned as Commander of the Psychosocial Support Section to the Well-being Department of the Belgian Defence. He is currently the Domain Manager Human Factors & Medicine Research at the Department of Scientific and Technological Research of Defence at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence.
Academic Training
Erik De Soir has a Postgraduate Degree in Disaster Management & Disaster Medicine (Catholic University of Leuven, 1991), a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology (Catholic University of Leuven, 1995), a Postgraduate Psychotherapy Training in Systemic Marital, Family & Sex Therapy (Catholic University of Leuven, 1998), a Postgraduate Psychotherapy Training in Hypnotherapy (Scientific Flemish Hypnotherapy Association) and extensive training in psychotrauma therapy & counselling (creative arts therapy, EMDR, sensorimotor trauma therapy, cognitive therapy, e.a.). For several years, he has developed an eclectic model for trauma therapy, based on techniques derived from the traditional Chinese medicine, shiatsu, Buddhist meditation and craniosacral therapy methods.
He is a Dr in Psychology (Utrecht University) and a Dr in Social and Military Sciences (Royal Military Academy). And carried out his PhD research on “PTSD Risk Factors & Determinants in the Aftermath of Technological Disaster” under the supervision of Prof. Dr Rolf Kleber (Utrecht University, the Netherlands), Prof. Dr em. Onno Van der Hart (Utrecht University, the Netherlands) and Prof. Dr em. Jacques Mylle (Royal Military Academy).
Achievements
Erik De Soir created the first Belgian Model for Psychosocial Support of Peacekeeping Operations (for soldiers and their significant others) and elaborated basic principles for Traumatic Stress Management in the military and rescue services. As a crisis psychologist, he regularly participated in peace support operations in Somalia, Croatia and Bosnia, to study the different problems of deployed soldiers and their significant others.
Erik provided lectures and workshops on crisis management, crisis communication and psychotraumatology all over the world and is currently one of the leading experts in fire and rescue psychology.
He is also both a certified fire-fighter and a paramedic and serves as a volunteer fire psychologist in the Regional Fire & Ambulance Brigade of Leopoldsburg. He created a European-wide counselling and support network for the management of traumatic stress in fire brigades, emergency medical services and emergency departments of hospitals, currently known under the name of the Fire Stress Teams (FiST). In 2003, he created the European Association of Fire and Rescue Psychologists – Association européenne des psychologues sapeurs-pompiers (AEPSP).
Erik De Soir is one of the founding members of the Belgian Society for Psychotraumatology (Société belge de psychotraumatologie) and the Revue Francophone du Stress et du Trauma. Between 2001 and 2010, he has been the vice-president of the Association de langue française pour l’étude du stress et du traumatisme and he co-chaired the International Structure & Affiliations Committee within the ISTSS (International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies).
He is the author of numerous books, book chapters and trauma leaflets, translated in several languages.
Erik De Soir is the proud father of three children. In his time off, he is a practical shooting instructor, a martial arts specialist, a Buddhist meditation trainer, a Shiatsu and Craniosacral Therapist and a competitive squash player. His passion also goes to the macrobiotic cuisine and a Feng Shui lifestyle.edit
This chapter examines the usefulness of the conceptualization of trauma in contemporary French theory for a better understanding of the core of organizational trauma. Starting with a short historical background, it investigates the... more
This chapter examines the usefulness of the conceptualization of trauma in contemporary French theory for a better understanding of the core of organizational trauma. Starting with a short historical background, it investigates the contribution from contemporary French authors to current knowledge on psychotraumatology. The current position of the most influential contemporary French authors is that stress and trauma do not necessarily fit into the same concept. The French clinical description of psychological trauma is based on the concept of frozen fright in the face of death (effroi de la mort) and the repetition syndrome (syndrome de répétition). This may have implications for the analysis of what constitutes an organizational trauma since these clinically relevant but largely unknown theories shed another light on the currently used concepts in mainstream literature. The aim of this chapter is also to bridge conceptual gaps, understanding critical differences in clinical practi...
Research Interests: Psychology and IGI Global
Research Interests:
Cet article donne le retour d'experiences d'un survivant de la catastrophe de Ghislenghien, au moyen de son temoignage concernant le traumatisme progressif de sa survie. La chronologie des premiers moments est qualifiee comme un... more
Cet article donne le retour d'experiences d'un survivant de la catastrophe de Ghislenghien, au moyen de son temoignage concernant le traumatisme progressif de sa survie. La chronologie des premiers moments est qualifiee comme un parcours traumatique chez Hades et expliquee selon les modeles empiriques et les theories d'auteurs francais psychodynamiques. Surtout les moments de dissociation peri-traumatique ― c.-a-d. de derealisation, de pilotage automatique et de deni de la realite ― semblent avoir eu un impact indelebile. Le vecu d'effroi, de petrification et d'horreur, a laisse chez ce survivant un impact traumatique se developpant graduellement et proportionnellement a sa douleur de grand brule et de rescape miracule. Ce temoignage permet de degager divers facteurs essentiels dans la prevention primaire et secondaire de sequelles post-traumatiques.
Research Interests:
Les patients atteints d'un trouble dissociatif complexe presentent les differentes parties typiques de la personnalite dissociative. Une ou plusieurs de ces parties tentent de maitriser le quotidien, tandis que d'autres sont... more
Les patients atteints d'un trouble dissociatif complexe presentent les differentes parties typiques de la personnalite dissociative. Une ou plusieurs de ces parties tentent de maitriser le quotidien, tandis que d'autres sont fixees sur des comportements associes au vecu traumatique et ont tendance a revivre les evenements traumatiques de ce vecu. Cet article presente la therapie par phases comme modele de traitement par excellence de ce type de troubles. Cette therapie se decompose en trois phases : 1. une phase de stabilisation, de reduction de symptomes et de psychoeducation ; 2. une phase de confrontation et de traitement des souvenirs traumatiques ; et 3. une phase d'integration progressive. La premiere phase renforce les parties de la personnalite concernees dans les actions quotidiennes et aborde de maniere appropriee les parties fixees dans le passe traumatique. Dans cet article, l'accent est mis sur la deuxieme phase qui vise le traitement des souvenirs traumatiques, ce qui implique de surmonter les phobies de reviviscence de ces souvenirs et des parties dissociatives, permettant ainsi une integration de l'evenement traumatisant. Cette phase alterne habituellement avec des phases de stabilisation complementaires. Apres le traitement des souvenirs traumatiques, suit une derniere phase dont l'objectif est l'integration progressive des differentes parties de la personnalite.
Research Interests:
Cet article traite des experiences vecues par les sapeurs-pompiers et les personnels des services d'aide medicale urgente pendant et immediatement apres les operations de secours lors de la catastrophe de Ghislenghien. Une analyse... more
Cet article traite des experiences vecues par les sapeurs-pompiers et les personnels des services d'aide medicale urgente pendant et immediatement apres les operations de secours lors de la catastrophe de Ghislenghien. Une analyse phenomenologique indique que les sapeurs-pompiers ont rapporte plus de menaces vitales ressenties et d'exposition directe a la mort que les personnels des services d'aide medicale urgente. Les resultats indiquent egalement que les caracteristiques principales de cet evenement traumatogene ont ete l'impact massif et soudain, la mort de jeunes victimes ou de nombreux deces. Au niveau des emotions, impuissance, horreur, peur, impression d'apocalypse et chagrin furent ressentis par les deux groupes. Les differences entre les vecus des deux groupes peuvent s'expliquer par la difference en matiere de risques vitaux encourus, de contacts avec la mort et de degre d'entrainement variable entre les deux populations.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This article explores the experiences of fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel during and immediately after a technological event using a phenomenological approach. Personnel engaged in the rescue operations during and... more
This article explores the experiences of fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel during and immediately after a technological event using a phenomenological approach. Personnel engaged in the rescue operations during and immediately after the Ghislenghien gas explosion reflected upon their experiences in their responses to a specially designed, self-reporting questionnaire that included open-ended questions. Firefighters reported more perceived threat and direct exposure to death than did EMS personnel. Qualitative analysis indicates that the central characteristics of this potentially traumatizing event were the suddenness and massiveness of the impact, and the fact that it involved young victims and/or multiple deaths. With regard to emotions, powerlessness, horror, fear, a sense of apocalypse, and grief were experienced by both firefighters and EMS personnel. Firefighters noted that the death of colleagues, the involvement of friends and family, the massive impact, an...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This chapter provides a literature review of postdeployment stressors and their effects and explores the potential value of adding a transition period between the operational environment and the “home front”. The organized transition... more
This chapter provides a literature review of postdeployment stressors and their effects and explores the potential value of adding a transition period between the operational environment and the “home front”. The organized transition period between the end of a military operation and the homecoming is known as Third Location Decompression (TLD), a promising means of providing better psychosocial support to troops returning from difficult dangerous and potentially traumatic operation theatres. TLD programs aim to combine postmission debriefing, psychosocial adjustment, mental and physical relaxation, sense giving, and mental health psychoeducation in a location that is safe and comfortable. This chapter will focus on the key features of various TLD programs utilized with troops that have been deployed in different theatres in Afghanistan. We also review the antecedents, correlates, and outcomes of postmission adjustment during and after military peacekeeping or war operations, with a focus on the role of traumatic stress and posttraumatic stress disorder in readjustment and readaptation of troops after long-term deployment. Last, we will discuss the implementation of TLD programs in several NATO countries (i.e. Belgium) and assess the evidence for their effectiveness in facilitating healthy adjustment and homecoming.
Research Interests:
... BELGIUM. erik.desoir@mil.be. Abstract. ... 5. References. Hacker Hughes JGH, Earnshaw M, Greenberg N, Eldridge R, Fear NT, French C, Deahl MP, Wessely S. The Use of Psychological Decompression in Military Operational Environments.... more
... BELGIUM. erik.desoir@mil.be. Abstract. ... 5. References. Hacker Hughes JGH, Earnshaw M, Greenberg N, Eldridge R, Fear NT, French C, Deahl MP, Wessely S. The Use of Psychological Decompression in Military Operational Environments. Military Medicine, Vol. 173, June 2008. ...
F OR OVER 20 YEARS PUKKELPOP (IN Hasselt-Kiewit, Belgium) has been one of the biggest annual festival events for alternative rock music in Europe. Pukkelpop means family, friends, community, freedom, party, peace and lots of alternative... more
F OR OVER 20 YEARS PUKKELPOP (IN Hasselt-Kiewit, Belgium) has been one of the biggest annual festival events for alternative rock music in Europe. Pukkelpop means family, friends, community, freedom, party, peace and lots of alternative music styles in an absolute 'no worries' atmosphere. The 2011 festival was the 26th in this successful series of concerts which started originally as an alternative event held on a small military airport in Leopoldsburg (Sanicole Airport). Owing to its enormous success, the event moved to a large fi eld on the outskirts of the town of Hasselt, which has approximately 80,000 inhabitants. More than 60,000 people attend the festival over three consecutive days. A further 10,000 help to build the impressive musical village and campsites, one of which can hold 10,000 tents. Construction and preparation for this festival takes almost six weeks and the whole community is involved. As a family event, it is an annual highlight for hundreds of youngste...
De acute psychologische beleving van een col-lectieve urgentie is er meestal één van extreme machteloosheid en verlies aan controle. Dit controleverlies beïnvloedt vaak ook de manier waarop de getroffenen zich na de gebeurtenis zullen... more
De acute psychologische beleving van een col-lectieve urgentie is er meestal één van extreme machteloosheid en verlies aan controle. Dit controleverlies beïnvloedt vaak ook de manier waarop de getroffenen zich na de gebeurtenis zullen gedragen. Onmiddellijk erna kunnen ze zich niet voorstellen dat ze ooit nog zullen her-stellen van deze klap. De overweldiging en de ervaren overmacht hebben de neiging de ge-troffenen in een eerder passieve slachtofferol te duwen. Dit is een probleem aangezien de gestructureerde psychosociale hulpverlening veelal reactief optreedt; dit wil zeggen, reage-rend op een inmiddels vastgelopen problema-tiek. Getroffenen van schokervaringen moeten proactief worden benaderd: hulp moet worden aangeboden aangezien de getroffenen meest-al de neiging hebben om in een hoekje te krui-pen. Psychosociale hulpverlening geschiedt dus best ook vanuit een preventieve ingesteld-heid: getroffenen worden bijgestaan in de eer-ste ogenblikken, omkaderd bij de oplossing van pra...
stress & trauma if the rescue personnel involved can recognise the symptoms of acute stress disorder. So one of the most important lessons to be learned is the use of screening tools. These will indicate to rescue personnel if someone is... more
stress & trauma if the rescue personnel involved can recognise the symptoms of acute stress disorder. So one of the most important lessons to be learned is the use of screening tools. These will indicate to rescue personnel if someone is at risk for chronification of stress reactions. During the literature study we found such a screening tool. The Screening Tool for Early Prediction of PTSD (STEPP). This was designed after thorough research and studies, to be used by healthcare personnel in the acute setting of an Accident and Emergency (A&E) service, to indicate who was running the risk of developing chronic stress reactions. The STEPP can be seen as a form of psychological triage for the A&E department, to indicate who needs further assessment on the presented stress reactions. Though indicative, it has to be stressed that it is not a diagnostic tool. The diagnosis of PTSD can only be made four weeks (one month) after the traumatic event, and the diagnosis has to be made after a c...
Gerits, the bus carrying our children on the way back of a ski vacation has crashed in a tunnel in Switzerland. Many of our children died, there are 28 dead casualties. We will really need lots of help. Can you call me back, please!"... more
Gerits, the bus carrying our children on the way back of a ski vacation has crashed in a tunnel in Switzerland. Many of our children died, there are 28 dead casualties. We will really need lots of help. Can you call me back, please!" This was the beginning of one of the most terrible journeys in my career. After hearing this message, I hurried to the school in Lommel Kolonie, just several kilometres from my home. As a crisis psychologist, I am on permanent duty (on call) for the regional fire services in Noord-Limburg (Belgium). Upon my arrival, only the director of the school and a staff member were present; they were calling the families of the children from the sixth primary grade who had been returning from a ski vacation. The fire chief, the Mayor of the city of Lommel and the police chief arrived and we took a 'freeze moment' to decide the most imminent steps in handling this tragedy. Between 06:30hrs and 07:30hrs, parents arrived at the school in a state of shock...
Decompressie na operationele uitzending: terug naar de essentie Erik L.J.L. DE SOIR Commandant van de Sectie Psychosociale Steun - Competentiecentrum Well-being Psycholoog, Psychotherapeut, Psychotraumatoloog, Hypnotherapeut Na een korte... more
Decompressie na operationele uitzending: terug naar de essentie Erik L.J.L. DE SOIR Commandant van de Sectie Psychosociale Steun - Competentiecentrum Well-being Psycholoog, Psychotherapeut, Psychotraumatoloog, Hypnotherapeut Na een korte loopbaan als pelotonscommandant bij het Bataljon Bevrijding en achttien als onderwijsgelastigde repetitor en onderzoeker aan de Leerstoel Psychologie van de Koninklijke Militaire School, sedert 29 juli 2009 in plaats gesteld op het Stafdepartement Well-being. Deze tekst bespreekt de mogelijkheden voor de organisatie van een adaptatieperiode tussen de operatiezone en het thuisfront voor militairen die na een langdurige operatie terug huiswaarts keren. De zogenaamde Third Location Decompression (TLD) wordt momenteel door verschillende NAVO partners uitgevoerd. Een Belgische testversie van de TLD – het Adaptatiesas of kortweg SAS – werd uitgewerkt door een werkgroep van specialisten o.l.v. de Sectie Psychosociale Steun van het Stafdepartement Well-bein...
Samenvatting Dit artikel schetst een beeld van de vele uitdagingen die de crisispsychologie en de psychotraumatologie voor psychiaters, psychologen en psychotherapeuten inhouden op basis van de historische achtergrond en de... more
Samenvatting Dit artikel schetst een beeld van de vele uitdagingen die de crisispsychologie en de psychotraumatologie voor psychiaters, psychologen en psychotherapeuten inhouden op basis van de historische achtergrond en de ontwikkelingsgang van dit vrij jonge vakgebied. In een eerste deel wordt stilgestaan bij de achtergrond waartegen de traumapsychologie of de psychotraumatologie op amper twee decennia uitgroeide tot een van de meest bestudeerde vakgebieden binnen de psychologie en de psychiatrie. Een tweede deel bespreekt de context waarbinnen diensten en instellingen in België werden uitgebouwd in de nasleep van enkele grootschalige collectieve urgenties of in functie van de evoluerende maatschappelijke context. In het derde en laatste deel worden de uitdagingen voor de toekomst, de kansen en de bedreigingen van de psychotraumatologie in Vlaanderen besproken.