How Crisis Counseling Can Help People Coping With Trauma

Woman smiling in therapy session

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A crisis refers not just to a traumatic event or experience, but to an individual's response to the situation.﻿﻿ The events that trigger this crisis can run the gamut of life experience, from developmental hurdles (such as going through puberty) to natural disasters to the death of a loved one.

Crisis counseling is an intervention that can help individuals deal with the crisis by offering assistance and support. The roots of modern-day crisis counseling date back to World War I and World War II.

Before this time, soldiers who exhibited significant psychological reactions to the experiences they had at war were frequently seen as weak or even disloyal. However, it soon became apparent that soldiers who were immediately offered treatment fared much better than their untreated counterparts.﻿﻿

Elements of Crisis Counseling



Like psychotherapy, crisis counseling involves assessment, planning, and treatment, but the scope is generally much more specific. While psychotherapy focuses on a broad range of information and client history, crisis assessment and treatment focuses on the client’s immediate situation including factors such as safety and immediate needs.﻿﻿ While there are a number of different treatment models, there are a number of common elements consistent with the various theories of crisis counseling.

Assessing the Situation





While the situation may seem both dire and endless to the person experiencing the crisis, the goal is to help the client see that they will eventually return to normal functioning.

Offering Support



Developing Coping Skills



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Article Sources
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