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Overview:
A crisis is a life experience characterized by emotional
disorganization and upset and a breakdown of previously adequate
coping strategies. They
occur when individuals are faced with problems that seem
overwhelming and beyond their ability to handle.
Frequently it is a personal crisis that initially brings an
individual to counseling. A
counselor must be able to recognize a crisis situation and take
appropriate action using the basic helping skills previously
discussed and practiced. Appropriate
action often includes
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Actively listening for facts, feelings
and client strengths |
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Facilitating problem exploration to
determine immediate needs and degree of risk |
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Assisting with mobilization of support |
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Assisting with development and
exploration of possible solutions |
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Assisting in taking concrete action |
This section will provide information on the
elements of a crisis situation and constructive crisis
intervention techniques.
Goal:
Learn about recognizing and managing crisis situations.
Outcomes:
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Describe the elements of a crisis
situation. |
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Demonstrate the application of crisis
management skills. |
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Explain the addiction professional's
obligation to adhere to ethical and behavioral standards of
conduct in the helping profession. |
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Explain the confidentiality rights of
clients, program procedures that safegaurd them and exceptions
imposed by statute. |
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Demonstrate respect and nonjudgmental
attitudes towards the client in all contacts with other
professional or agencies.
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Objectives:
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Readings from course and supplemental texts.
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Exploration of relevant web sites.
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Interviews with local professionals.
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Discussion questions.
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Exercises and role plays.
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Videotape assignment.
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Class discussions.
Tasks:
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Complete the assigned text readings.
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Practice crisis recognition and
management skills with an appropriate, willing partner and
local supervision. (Refer
to pages 44-50 in your Meier and Davis text.)
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Submit a 30-minute videotape
demonstrating crisis recognition and management skills.
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Participate in class discussions.
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Complete two of the following exercises:
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Explore a minimum of four web sites
that provide information on crisis recognition and
management. Write
a 3-page paper, including brief descriptions of the sites
you visited, your reactions to the information provided at
each site, and your opinion regarding each site’s
usefulness to someone wanting to learn about crisis
recognition and management.
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Interview professionals who provide
counseling services in the local community with regard to
crisis recognition and management. These might include
mental health professionals, alcohol/drug counselors,
licensed psychologists, licensed professional counselors,
social workers and/or school counselors.
Write a 3-page paper reporting on your findings,
including 1) the roles of the professionals you interviewed,
2) their criteria for recognizing a crisis situation, 3) the
techniques they use to manage crises, including local
support systems they have utilized in crisis situations.
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Interview individuals in recovery from
addiction to alcohol and/or other drugs.
These may be people you know personally or people you
might meet at treatment agencies, open AA and/or open NA
meetings. Inquire
about their experiences with crisis situations in their
recovery process. Inquire
about how they recognized and managed these crises, how they
used counseling and support to help them through these
situations, and what particular interventions proved to be
most useful. Write
a 3-page paper on your findings and your reactions.
Be sure to respect anonymity and confidentiality by
avoiding any and all identifiers of specific individuals.
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