The unpredictability of this world makes mental health professionals a needed asset for many individuals. Many people go through emotional turmoil and life-altering crises that leave them vulnerable and in need of help.
Counselors must recognize these signs and also find ways to counter them. One way to do this is by implementing crisis intervention, a time-sensitive approach that aims to provide immediate support to distressed individuals.
While crisis intervention offers immediate solutions, it’s also vital that mental health professionals recognize built-up emotions that cause emotional distress. The American International College (AIC) allows counselors to hone their expertise through their MA counseling online program. This comprehensive program typically has a two-year duration for full-timers and a three-year and three-month duration for part-timers.
The online MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at AIC empowers counselors to recognize crisis situations and determine the most effective intervention strategies. This article will also discuss crisis intervention and when it is necessary.
What is crisis intervention in counseling?
Crisis intervention in counseling is a short-term, practical way to help people in critical situations or mental distress. This distress could be due to a traumatic event, a severe mental health problem or a life-threatening situation that needs immediate attention. Crisis intervention ensures that these individuals get the necessary emotional support to ease their pain and stabilize their mental health without hurting themselves in the process.
If a counselor notices that their client is displaying signs of emotional distress, such as self-harm, because they recently lost their job and may be evicted from their home, the counselor must recognize the need for crisis intervention to provide immediate support. They’d need to ask the client direct questions about their thoughts on self-harm, and once they are confident the client isn’t in immediate danger, use active listening and empathetic responses to validate the client’s feelings.
The next step would be to help the client find a temporary job to make ends meet and foster a sense of financial security. The counselor could also help their client reach out to a family member for additional emotional support. By the end of the session, the client should feel calmer and more in control, with a more straightforward path to navigate their current challenges. Crisis intervention is all about offering support and listening to people in their lowest times.
When is crisis intervention necessary in counseling?
Crisis intervention becomes necessary when people’s situations overwhelm them, posing a significant risk to their wellbeing. Here are four instances when crisis intervention is needed:
Suicidal behavior
When an individual expresses thoughts of suicide, crisis intervention provides immediate support to prevent further harm and connects them with appropriate mental health resources. The first step counselors should take in this situation is to establish a safe environment where individuals can discuss their thoughts and feelings.
They must validate the person’s emotions, empathize with the situation and avoid judging them. This builds trust and rapport with the individual, making understanding the factors contributing to their stress easier.
Crisis intervention also assesses the individual’s risk level for suicide. Counselors may evaluate the client’s history of suicidal thoughts and attempts, substance abuse, presence of a specific plan to end their life and mental health issues. This assessment helps counselors determine the level of intervention and support needed to ensure their safety.
Counselors can stabilize the individual’s emotional state by providing immediate coping strategies and support. These strategies may include relaxation techniques and methods to block out negative thoughts. They can also connect the individual with long-term mental health resources, including therapy, support groups or medication management. These long-term resources ensure that the person receives ongoing care to address underlying issues contributing to suicidal ideation.
Trauma
There are several indicators that an individual is struggling to cope with the aftermath of a traumatic experience. One key indicator is a change in their emotional state. You may notice they are unusually anxious, irritable, sad or even emotionally numb. Traumatized individuals may exhibit sudden mood swings, emotional outbursts, difficulty concentrating, disorientation or confusion. They may also show physical symptoms such as sleep disturbance, stress and fatigue.
Another vital sign you can be on the lookout for is the presence of intrusive thoughts and memories related to the traumatic event. A client might complain of experiencing nightmares or flashbacks about a particular event. This client might avoid answering questions about their trauma because they fear revisiting them. Their avoidance can lead to isolation, slowing their healing process, which is why crisis intervention is essential.
Create a safe space where this client feels comfortable, listen to them and empathize with their pain, and help them create coping strategies, such as grounding techniques to manage their anxiety and relaxation exercises to alleviate stress. You can also encourage them to maintain a routine, implement self-care and seek social support to improve their overall wellbeing.
Acute mental health crisis
An individual dealing with an acute mental health crisis may show sudden or significant changes in behavior or appearance. Their speech may be disorganized and their actions erratic. These individuals also tend to be aggressive, demonstrate self-harm or suicidal thoughts and have difficulty sleeping and meeting with others. Counselors must immediately assess the severity of their condition and implement crisis intervention based on the outcome of their assessment.
Substance abuse
People abusing substances are commonly known for their erratic behavior. You may notice a drastic change in weight, lack of sleep or impulsive actions that might cost them a lot. They may also look different, with significant changes in their behavior or mood.
An individual battling substance abuse may show signs of self-hate, especially when they wish to stop. Counselors must reassure them that they are loved and cherished and help them stand back on their feet with crisis intervention techniques. They should also connect them with a support group of people who have battled the same problem but are successfully fighting against it now. Being in a positive environment can help prevent individuals from relapsing.
Conclusion
Crisis intervention is a straightforward five-step approach that involves ensuring the client’s safety, offering emotional support, assessing the situation, connecting individuals with appropriate resources and helping them develop a recovery plan.
However, the success of crisis intervention depends on the counselor’s ability to understand the crisis, gather relevant information and develop an appropriate intervention plan. Ultimately, crisis intervention is designed to provide timely and effective support to individuals to help them heal and recover.
