Crisis Intervention

Question 1

Types of Crisis

Answer 1

• A crisis is any situation where an individual experiences an overwhelming event which upsets their psychological equilibrium or baseline level of functioning.
• One’s usual methods of problem solving or coping are not effective in a crisis
• A crisis is self-defined by one’s own perception of the event or situation and can last from 2 days to 6 weeks
• Maturational Crisis - precipitated by normal stress during the course of life, e.g. marriage, birth, retirement
• Situational Crisis - Precipitated by a sudden, unexpected traumatic event, e.g. death, job loss, illness

Question 2

Factors Which Influence Rxns to Crisis

Answer 2

• Nature of the event and extent of exposure
• Perception of the event
• Social supports and coping mechanisms

Question 3

Crisis Intervention

Answer 3

• Brief tx initiated when an individual is in a crisis to help restore one’s pre-crisis biopsychosocial functioning.
• Supportive, focused psychotherapy
• 1-6 sessions during period of crisis

Question 4

Steps in Crisis Intervention

Answer 4

1. Listen - establish therapeutic relation, ID precipitating probs, explore clt’s emos
2. Ax - determine crisis sevrity, safety risks and SI, coping mechanisms, meaning of event to clt, clt’s perception of reality, social supports, willingness to use supports, and focus on immediate prob, not hx
3. Tx Plan - help clt understand their rxn to crisis as normal and temporary, use appropriate approaches to action planning, modify past coping skills to fit current situation, create contract or sign tx plan so everyone is on the same page, ID referral sources
4. Termination - review progress, resources, and support sys, schedule follow up session