Support in a crisis is psychological help for people in crisis situations, i.e. those that are impossible to solve from a given person’s point of view. The primary goal is to ensure safety, restore emotional balance and a sense of control over one’s own life.
What does support look like in a crisis?
The work begins with identifying the problem and taking actions that minimize physical and mental risks to the patient and their environment. During the first meetings, it is important to build a relationship based on respect and trust. Thanks to this, in the next stage, a plan for exiting the crisis situation can be developed together.
Support in a crisis can take the form of a short-term intervention. However, if problems such as depression or personality disorders are diagnosed, long-term psychotherapy is recommended.
Psychoeducation also plays an important role, which allows you to better control stress and cope with difficult events more easily.
Who can benefit from support for people in crisis?
This form of help can be used by every person who is in a crisis situation. Crisis means a state of serious emotional imbalance, combined with a lack of faith in the possibility of overcoming difficulties. Such a condition can be caused by, for example:
- loss of job,
- death of a loved one,
- diagnosis of a serious illness,
- experience of physical, psychological or sexual violence,
- an excess of responsibilities,
- separation from your partner,
- untreated trauma.
Sometimes a crisis is the result of an accumulation of several factors. A large number of problems lead to overload, which results in a sense of loss of control, severe tension and anxiety.