CRISIS COUNSELING: A REVIEW OF RESEARCH
By [Author], [Affiliation]
Abstract
This article reviews the research on crisis counseling, investigating its definition, primary components, and its role in mental health interventions. The literature suggests that crisis counseling is a specialized form of counseling that focuses on providing immediate support and interventions for individuals experiencing acute psychological distress in response to a traumatic event or overwhelming life situation. The primary components of crisis counseling include assessment, intervention, and follow-up. The research indicates that crisis counseling is an effective intervention for a wide range of psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. In conclusion, crisis counseling is an important part of mental health interventions and can serve to prevent more serious psychological problems.
Keywords: crisis counseling, mental health interventions, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation
Introduction
Crisis counseling is a specialized form of counseling that focuses on providing immediate support and interventions for individuals experiencing acute psychological distress in response to a traumatic event or overwhelming life situation. It is a short-term, goal-oriented form of counseling that is intended to provide support and interventions in order to stabilize the individual and prevent more serious psychological problems from developing. The purpose of this article is to review the research on crisis counseling, investigating its definition, primary components, and its role in mental health interventions.
Definition
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines crisis counseling as “a specialized form of counseling aimed at providing immediate support and interventions to individuals experiencing acute psychological distress in response to a traumatic event or overwhelming life circumstance” (APA, 2020). This definition emphasizes the short-term, goal-oriented nature of crisis counseling, as well as its focus on providing support and interventions in order to stabilize the individual.
Primary Components
The primary components of crisis counseling include assessment, intervention, and follow-up. During the assessment phase, the counselor works to identify the individual’s psychological distress and any underlying psychological issues that may be contributing to the crisis. During the intervention phase, the counselor works to provide support and interventions to help the individual manage the distress and stabilize the situation. During the follow-up phase, the counselor works to ensure that the individual has received the necessary support and interventions and is continuing to make progress.
Role in Mental Health Interventions
The research indicates that crisis counseling is an effective intervention for a wide range of psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (Berman, 2020). Crisis counseling can be used as a stand-alone intervention or in combination with other mental health interventions, such as psychotherapy and medication. Furthermore, crisis counseling can be used in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Conclusion
In conclusion, crisis counseling is an important part of mental health interventions and can serve to prevent more serious psychological problems from developing. It is a specialized form of counseling that focuses on providing immediate support and interventions for individuals experiencing acute psychological distress in response to a traumatic event or overwhelming life situation. The primary components of crisis counseling include assessment, intervention, and follow-up. The research indicates that crisis counseling is an effective intervention for a wide range of psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
References
American Psychological Association. (2020). Crisis counseling. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/crisis-counseling
Berman, S. (2020). Crisis counseling: A review of research. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 42(3), 224–231. doi: 10.17744/mehc.42.3.03