Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention

Characteristics of a CrisisCharacteristics of a Crisis Time limited: Generally lasting no more Time limited: Generally lasting no more

than six weeks.than six weeks. Typical phases:Typical phases:

Traditional attempt to problem solveTraditional attempt to problem solve Attempts to try alternative methodsAttempts to try alternative methods

DisorganizationDisorganization People are more open to changePeople are more open to change Opportunity to resolve previously Opportunity to resolve previously

unresolved issuesunresolved issues Successful experience Successful experience

Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention

Goal is to stabilize the family situation and Goal is to stabilize the family situation and restore to their pre-crisis level of restore to their pre-crisis level of functioning.functioning.

Opportunity to develop new ways of Opportunity to develop new ways of perceiving, coping, and problem-solving.perceiving, coping, and problem-solving.

The intervention is time limited and fast The intervention is time limited and fast paced.paced.

Worker must take an active and directive Worker must take an active and directive approach.approach.

Process Process

AssessmentAssessment InterventionIntervention Termination Termination Assessment includes: the stressor Assessment includes: the stressor

event; the person experiencing the event; the person experiencing the crisis; and the meaning of the event crisis; and the meaning of the event to the person in crisis.to the person in crisis.

Important to assess risk factors.Important to assess risk factors.

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

Suicide or homicideSuicide or homicide Risk of physical or emotional harm to Risk of physical or emotional harm to

the childrenthe children Risk of break from reality (psychosis)Risk of break from reality (psychosis) Risk of client fleeing the situation.Risk of client fleeing the situation.

Performing the AssessmentPerforming the Assessment

Conducting the interviewConducting the interview History: personal and familial of risk behaviorHistory: personal and familial of risk behavior Any means and plans the client may have Any means and plans the client may have

about carrying out the risk behaviorabout carrying out the risk behavior Controls: internal and external that are Controls: internal and external that are

stopping the client from undertaking the risk stopping the client from undertaking the risk behavior.behavior.

Observations during the interviewObservations during the interview Level of anxiety; desperation; despair; sense of Level of anxiety; desperation; despair; sense of

hopelessness; contact with reality.hopelessness; contact with reality.

The skill and technique most essential at The skill and technique most essential at this stage is that of this stage is that of focusingfocusing while while allowing the client to ventilate and express allowing the client to ventilate and express the overwhelming flood of emotions.the overwhelming flood of emotions.

Focusing technique can elicit more Focusing technique can elicit more coherent information for assessment as coherent information for assessment as well as help the client pull themselves well as help the client pull themselves together cognitively and emotionally.together cognitively and emotionally.

A focused interview can serve as an A focused interview can serve as an instrument of both assessment and instrument of both assessment and intervention.intervention.

Intervention Intervention Planning occurs simultaneously as Planning occurs simultaneously as

assessment is made about how much time assessment is made about how much time has elapsed between the occurrence of has elapsed between the occurrence of the stressor event and this initial the stressor event and this initial interview.interview.

How much the crisis has interrupted the How much the crisis has interrupted the person’s life;person’s life;

The effect of this disruption on others in The effect of this disruption on others in the family;the family;

Level of functioning prior to crisis and Level of functioning prior to crisis and what resources can be mobilized.what resources can be mobilized.

The goal of intervention is to restore the The goal of intervention is to restore the person to pre-crisis level of equilibrium, person to pre-crisis level of equilibrium, not of personality changes.not of personality changes.

Worker attempts to mobilize the client’s Worker attempts to mobilize the client’s internal and external resources.internal and external resources.

Exact nature of the intervention will Exact nature of the intervention will depend on the client’s pre-existing depend on the client’s pre-existing strengths and supports and the worker’s strengths and supports and the worker’s level of creativity and flexibility. level of creativity and flexibility.

Three ApproachesThree Approaches Affective:Affective:

Expression and management of feelings involving Expression and management of feelings involving techniques of ventilation; psychological support; techniques of ventilation; psychological support; emotional catharsis.emotional catharsis.

Cognitive:Cognitive: Helping the client understand the connections between Helping the client understand the connections between

the stressor event and their response. Techniques the stressor event and their response. Techniques include clarifying the problem; identifying and isolating include clarifying the problem; identifying and isolating the factors involved; helping the client gain an the factors involved; helping the client gain an intellectual understanding of the crisisintellectual understanding of the crisis

Also involves giving information; discussing alternative Also involves giving information; discussing alternative coping strategies and changing perceptions.coping strategies and changing perceptions.

Environmental modification:Environmental modification: Pulling together needed external, Pulling together needed external,

environmental resources (either familial or environmental resources (either familial or formal helping agencies)formal helping agencies)

Any and all three approaches may be used Any and all three approaches may be used at any time depending where the client is, at any time depending where the client is, emotionally and cognitively.emotionally and cognitively.

The goal is to help the client restore pre-The goal is to help the client restore pre-crisis levels of functioning.crisis levels of functioning.

Warnings Warnings

Danger of misunderstanding the client’s Danger of misunderstanding the client’s nonverbal behavior as well as spoken nonverbal behavior as well as spoken words due to cultural differences or the words due to cultural differences or the client’s state of disorganization.client’s state of disorganization.

Imperative for the worker not to assume Imperative for the worker not to assume that they understand what the client that they understand what the client means by his spoken word or non-verbal means by his spoken word or non-verbal behavior and vice versa.behavior and vice versa.

It is best to clarify and make sure.It is best to clarify and make sure.