CRISIS INTERVENTION

Crisis Intervention: Brief Therapy



Crisis Intervention: Brief Therapy

Introduction

The term crisis has been defined in many ways, but an actual crisis has essentially three parts. The three aspects of a crisis are these: (1) A precipitating event occurs; (2) the perception of this event leads to subjective distress; and (3) usual coping methods fail, leading the person experiencing the event to function psychologically, emotionally, or behaviorally at a lower level than before the precipitating event occurred. Crisis intervention refers to the effective interaction and mediation of the conduct of others during tense situations, such that the threat of impending violence or harm is thwarted and/or diverted. It is a proactive, rather than reactive, measure intended to prevent violence rather than respond to it. By intervening before the eruption of violence, trained personnel may effectively persuade perpetrators to channel and discharge their violence into more appropriate outlets. This paper discusses “Brief Therapy” in relation with crisis intervention.

Discussion

Law enforcement personnel, crisis counselors, and mental health workers are just a few of those who benefit from the application of crisis intervention techniques in the field. By far the most common situation to which police officers are dispatched is that of domestic violence and family disturbances. (Peake, 2008)

As law enforcement personnel become more adept and trained in crisis intervention, they are able to better predict both the occurrence and outcome of a tense environment. For example, some local police units maintain databases of all domestic-related calls, including information about the victim, the offender, others present, past interventions, and referral assistance given. The police units are able to analyze this information for crime trends, to create victim and batterer profiles, and to assess victims' needs. (Bien, 2003)

Brief Therapy

Brief therapy can also be useful with an individual client. In this type of approach, clients explore their past patterns of behavior and how these have prevented them from succeeding at life the way they have wanted to succeed. They may explore interpersonal relationships, self-concept, and family patterns. The focus is on creative change and incorporating new styles of relating to the world. Sometimes the precipitating event is the best thing that could happen to a particular person because it leads him or her to a counselor's office, where some of these chronic debilitating patterns can be identified. If the past ineffective patterns can be recognized, they can be eliminated; the client can learn more ...