CRISIS INTERVENTION

Crisis Intervention refers to psychological intervention provided on a short-term, emergency basis for individuals, families, and groups who have undergone a highly disruptive experience, such as an unexpected bereavement or a disaster; or experiencing mental health crises such as an acute psychotic episode or attempted suicide. Crisis intervention may prevent more serious consequences of the experience, such as posttraumatic stress disorder. It involves immediate drop-in or onsite professional counselling provided following a trauma or sudden stressful event, often for emergency situations.

Crisis Intervention generally follows the following roadmap (Everly, 2001):

1. Stabilization of the Situation or Response
2. Acknowledgement of the Crisis
3. Facilitation of Understanding
4. Encourage Adaptive Coping
5. Restoration of Adaptive, Independent Functioning or Referral