Chapter 32 - Dealing with Crisis

Abstract

Therapists need to be prepared to effectively intervene in a crisis the patient is facing. Therapists themselves can experience a revived memory of a prior crisis in their life when working with patients going through similar experiences and need to manage their own emotional states so patients are not adversely affected. This chapter contains forms and guidelines on how to effectively deal with a patient's crisis experience as well as the vicarious crisis that a therapist may sometimes experience. The chapter begins by listing basic helping skills that can enhance the ability to provide effective services in a crisis using generally accepted actions and principles for crisis management. Crisis Intervention is explored as a first aid while dealing with a fresh crisis. A discussion about what happened and the associated response facilitates working through and resolving the crisis experience. Ways to face and overcome a crisis are given with a focus on common signs of a crisis reaction, experiencing crisis, recovering from a crisis, outcome of a crisis and quotable quotes on a crisis. Post trauma dos and don'ts are listed and trauma response is delved into. The sequential responses to trauma include the following stages: stressful event, outcry, denial, intrusion, working through, and resolution. Daily exposure to the trauma experiences of others can have a significant personal impact on the therapist. This is known as “second hand trauma.” Guidelines are given which can help a therapist work with patients productively and effectively. Types of trauma are discussed.