Definition of Crisis - A situation in which client's goals/intentions are interrupted in such a way that they cause an emotional response from client;
... [Show More] person may feel fear, anger, shock, anguish about the situation
Four Phases when dealing with crisis - 1. Crisis occurs, client responds, often in negative manner that involves difficult feelings
2. Client may then become more frustrated/stressed, depending on the continuation of crisis situation
3. Some clients easy their own tension about situation depending on how they handle it; instituting coping mechanisms, acting out in fear/anger, giving up, attempting to solve the problem
4. Situation surrounding crisis is somehow resolved, whether it is because the client successfully dealt with situation, repressed/avoided managing it
Crisis Intervention - Stepping into a potentially harmful/stressful situation to avoid escalation on part of client
First, assess situation to determine if client/anyone else is in danger
Then, decide what type of help is most appropriate
EX: critical event (suicide) requires swift/successful intervention, not a support group
Then carry out necessary treatment/help
Help client become calm to talk about feelings/identify coping mechanisms
Stabilize situation and bring client down from state of crisis
Crisis Intervention Approach to Social Work Practice - - Psychodynamic, ego psychology (Freud, Erikson, Rapoport) and Lindemann's work on loss/grief
- Intellectual development (Piaget)
- Social science: stress theory, family structure, role theory
Human Behavior Assumptions in Crisis Intervention Approach - - Individual has tendency to a natural progressive growth the prevails over regression
- Stress during crisis induces disequilibrium/anxiety that allow therapeutic accessibility; crisis can create opportunities to develop new coping mechanisms/growth or give rise to dysfunctional behavior
- Crisis occurs when established coping skills dont resolve stress effectively; crisis inflicts an array of affective, cognitive, behavioral tasks; crisis can reactivate old problems
- An individual in crisis is not ill but is dealing with a challenge that is part of the human condition; crisis therapist doesnt necessarily assume the presence of a pathological/DSM disorder; individual in crisis is affected by the past but present situation is more relevant [Show Less]