Crisis Intervention Theory

Crisis Intervention Theory

The utilization of theories and models in social work has become a critical element of the profession. Understandably, social work is a scientific field that deals with problem-solving in human relationships. As such, the utilization of crisis intervention theory in dealing with human behavior during stressful moments is essential in ensuring there is complete healing and sustained emotional balance. Crisis intervention theory is a psychological paradigm that focuses on behavioral responses related to grief. Such psychological reactions can be short term, and hence they can be relieved with time-based on the techniques applied to curb the behavioral changes. Specifically, the expanded crisis theory focuses on the environmental, social, and situational facts of the crisis. In contrast, applied crisis theory encompasses domains such as usual development crises, situational, existential, and ecosystemic crises.

Crisis intervention theory canbe traced to the initial authorship of Erich Lindeman, who was a German psychiatrist majoring in crisis intervention. Erich authored a paper on crisis intervention following the bereavement in the aftermath of a cocoanut night club fire that killed approximately 500 people. The work focused on crisis development by fathoming different behavioral and cognitive impacts. As such, development, situational, and existential crises make up the three domains of the modern applied crisis theory (Dustin, 2016). Developmental crises is applicable in ordinary real-life experiences; for example, during pregnancy, a person experiences natural disasters, but close monitoring should sbe done to ensure the victim returns to normal behavior. Situational crises emanate from events that are overwhelming to standard coping mechanisms. Crisis intervention aims at restoring homeostasis and quality of life through pragmatic solutions that can harness the problem-solving and coping capacity of individuals (Ngozi, Malachy, Christy, Uche, Agnes & Prince, 2016). Indeed, crisis intervention theory can iapplied in real-life experiences based on the three domains that comprise the model.

Considering the applied crisis intervention theory in real-life experience requires examination through lenses of development, situational, and existential crisis (Dustin, 2016). In the developmental realm, I remember losing my uncle, who was a pillar in my life. The grief was overwhelming, and although death is normal and considered as a transition to the afterlife, the pain was unbearable. However, after attending multiple counseling sessions, I was able to cope with the loss and overcame the grief. Ultimately, I was able to return to normal behavior.

Being involved in an accident during the summer holidays was a manifestation of situational crises. The impact of the accident was so overwhelming that I thought recovery was farfetched. Indeed, the intensity of the pain and anguish felt like a battle of a lifetime. Indeed, the spontaneous nature of the accident seemed catastrophic and life-threatening. The unfortunate scenario was that the accident exposed me to the situation that I could not control.

Finally, during my 30^th birthday, I sat quietly and reflected on my life. Instantly, it hit me that I had envisioned having completed my master’s degree at the age of 30 years. Unfortunately, the reality dawned on me that life had passed by, yet I had not achieved the goal, neither had I made a significant effort towards achieving it. Regret and resentment filled my heart, thus throwing me into psychological crises. However, interaction with my elder brother made me realize that my dream was still valid, and hence, I could make an initiative to achieve it.

References

Dustin, M.K. (2016). Crisis theory and types of crisis. Retrieved from: http://dustinkmacdonald.com/crisis-theory-types-crisis/

Ngozi, C., Malachy, E., Christy, O., Uche, O., Agnes, O., & Prince, A. (2016). Crisis intervention as a theory and a model in social work: a panacea against militancy in the Niger delta of Nigeria. International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research, 7(8), 1394-1401.