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Crisis Intervention: Definition, Techniques, Examples

Certain life events change the way we perceive the world around us. Going through them can alter a person’s emotional and mental state to the point where crisis intervention becomes a solution to restore them. This post delves into crisis intervention, the techniques employed, and how to achieve a successful outcome. 

What is Crisis Intervention?

Crisis intervention is a short-term way to stop the person from potentially harming themselves long term. A crisis involves a life-changing event, such as divorce, the death of a loved one, experiencing a violent event, or learning you have a severe illness. 

When a person undergoes a crisis, it overwhelms them mentally. It can reach the point where they shut down, turn to use drugs or alcohol, or are a threat to harm themselves. Crisis intervention seeks to restore the person through short-term rehabilitation when the person reaches this point. 

How Does This Work?

You can help to initiate a crisis intervention for the person. It is best to have a mental health professional organize and lead the intervention. During it, they can learn more about the person, the trauma that impacted them, the behaviors it resulted in, and determine the best course of action. What’s more, they can offer fresh perspectives that others might not have considered.

Meanwhile, crisis intervention teams are also available at some hospitals or mental health facilities. First responders also receive training for crisis interventions and can respond in kind. Having the person go to a healthcare facility ensures they receive prompt treatment.

When applying intervention techniques, one of the most common is stabilization, acknowledgment, facilitating understanding, encouragement, recovery, and referral. It is also known as SAFER-R.

Moreover, it is effective when paired with the Assessment Crisis Intervention Trauma Treatment. It involves:

• Determining the initial assessment of the patient
• Building a relationship with them
• Gaining a deeper understanding of their trauma and behaviors
• Getting to the core of their emotional issues
• Offering coping mechanisms
• Developing a treatment plan
• Implementing follow-ups to gauge treatment effectiveness

What are Examples of Crisis Intervention?

Maybe you had a friend who had a loved one die unexpectedly. The person, naturally, expresses sadness, depression, and withdrawals. However, they begin to exhibit signs they’re unable to take care of themselves, as they shut down. They could also display severe depressive symptoms, such as stating they don’t want to live anymore, they don’t eat or sleep, or they take drugs to escape. When you see a person exhibits these traits, you’re afraid they might not be able to recover or hurt themselves permanently. A crisis intervention is vital in this situation.

When these situations arise, you want to formulate a strategy to get them the help they need. It is where our intervention work can assist you. We understand how difficult this situation is. We have a high success rate because we take every detail into account to ensure a better outcome. Discover how we can help your loved one today.