Crisis Intervention

Crisis Intervention: A Turning Point in Mental Health and Wellness

By its very nature, a mental health crisis intervention is a challenging process—and one that should be approached by a trained professional.

When you hire a crisis intervention specialist to help yourself or your loved one face their problems, you help to increase the chances of a positive outcome.

Consider a crisis a turning point. This opportunity presents an opportunity for healing when it is well-managed.

What is Crisis Intervention

To paraphrase one crisis intervention definition, a crisis intervention center will help in identifying and assessing the person who is in crisis to help them regain control of their feelings and thoughts.

While you may recognize the need for assistance from a intervention team, how do you know the right fit for you or your loved one in?

Every intervention center works according to a intervention model and may have varying philosophies.

Here is the truth, you have many intervention teams from which you may choose.

This will give you a broad overview of how an Emerald Isle mental health crisis intervention works.

If you do have any questions while you read or you need to reach our intervention hotline, please call 844.396.8090 to connect with Emerald Isle Health & Recovery immediately for help.

When Someone Needs Mental Health Intervention

You have a difficult time deciding if your loved one needs the aid of a intervention team to help them with a specific situation.

What are some of the warning signs that a crisis is imminent? According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the following are some red flags that someone is struggling with mental health challenges:

• Excessive feelings of worry, fear, stress, anger, or sadness
• Strained interpersonal relationships or avoiding family and friends
• Unexplained changes in sleeping patterns
• Suffering from hallucinations or delusions
• Substance abuse of street drugs, prescription medications, or alcohol
• Rapid shifts in mood that result in risky behaviors—i.e., extreme highs or lows
• Shifts in appetite, hunger, or eating patterns
• Becoming confused quickly, unable to concentrate or learn new concepts
• When these behaviors, thoughts, and actions begin to spiral out of control, you can slip into a crisis. Call us for help at 844.396.8090

Special Note: Suicidal Thoughts or Self Harm

Thinking of suicide or harming yourself is another symptom that a person needs help.

We list thoughts of suicide or conducting self-harm under a separate section because these require immediate crisis prevention.

Do not wait for symptoms to worsen—get help now for yourself or loved one right away.

What Are Some Types of Interventions

If you suspect that someone needs therapeutic intervention, know that you are doing the right thing in getting them help.

Here are a few of the types of crisis interventions you should know.

Crisis Intervention Hotline

For many, the first interaction with a mental health professional occurs through a crisis intervention hotline.

The intervention counselor receives specialized training to calm down the individual quickly. Next, they assess the threat level of the scenario.

In the earliest stages of a non-life-threatening crisis, they can often guide the caller in a discussion and identify the cause of the troubling thoughts. Or, they may refer the caller to additional services for more comprehensive care.

In the most severe cases, they may recommend immediate intervention.

If you are unsure if your loved one needs immediate help, please feel free to call our toll-free line at 855-613-0620 for guidance.

Outpatient Crisis Intervention Counselor

Many times, a crisis calls for more than a phone call but does not require hospitalization. In these cases, an outpatient crisis counselor could be the appropriate person to diffuse the situation.

They will work to identify the root cause of the crisis and assess the individual’s state of mind.

Then, they will use proven therapeutic intervention techniques to stabilize that person and help them work out of the crisis.

Additionally, they might make referrals for a long-term counselor, suggest support groups, or refer the person to an in-patient unit if they require it.

Hospitalization Programs for Intense Crisis Intervention Strategies

In the most pervasive cases, a person having a crisis might require either partial hospitalization or in-patient residential intervention services.

In a hospital setting, the intervention specialist can use more in-depth techniques to overcome the most life-threatening scenarios.

But what situations call for such an extreme measure?

• Suicidal thoughts
• Suicide attempts
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• When a person is in any imminent danger
• If a person poses a threat to others

In this setting, the intervention team can apply nonviolent intervention techniques to keep you or your loved one safe until they are stable enough to cope with their emotions.

What Are Some Intervention Techniques

Mental health intervention is not a one-size-fits-all strategy.

Each person experiences their crisis uniquely, so there are many crisis intervention techniques that intervention specialists keep at their disposal.

Every intervention theory includes steps to enable counselors to take charge of these scenarios quickly and confidently.

The most often used intervention model is the ABC Model of Crisis Interventions—here is how it works?

ABC Model of Crisis Intervention

Dating back to the mid-twentieth century, the ABC Model of Crisis Intervention developed from scientific data.

It gives intervention specialists a three-step system to apply that works for a wide range of people in crisis.

Step A: Empathy and Rapport Building
The mental health intervention starts with Step A. In this first step, the crisis intervention counselor uses empathy to build a rapport and gain trust.

This stage is critical to the success of the process. Without building trust, and displaying genuine compassion, the person in crisis will not engage in the subsequent therapeutic crisis intervention stages.

Step B: Identify the Cause of the Crisis and Discuss
The ABC Model of Crisis Intervention suggests this step is the most significant in diffusing a crisis.

The intervention therapist will continue using empathy and building the relationship and lead the person into a discussion to help them identify the cause of their situation.

Once they pinpoint the underlying cause, the counselor can also help the person process their circumstances and help shape a more realistic perception.

Step C: Providing Coping Tools
By the time the intervention counselor moves to Step C, the person in crisis is in a calmer mindset and understands the causes of their circumstances.

Now, the counselor can provide coping tools and help the person move forward in the process. This stage often involves referrals for follow-up care.

However, they will also ask the person for their thoughts on how they can avoid falling back into crisis mode—an essential piece of input that also ensures that they fully comprehend their situation.

Life Space Intervention for Children in Crisis

Sadly, children also go into crisis mode for a variety of reasons.

Many intervention centers who specialize in managing pediatric crisis use the Life Space Crisis Intervention program. Like the ABC Model, Life Space is backed by science and proven by many years of use.

Since the 1950s, intervention counselors have applied this theory to children in crisis.

If You or a Loved One Requires a Mental Health Intervention

If you now realize that you or a loved one needs the help of a intervention team to overcome a difficult time, do not wait to ask for help.

You are not alone in this struggle, and an intervention can help you address your challenges and put you back onto a positive path.

Emerald Isle Health & Recovery can help you. Connect with our team online or by phone at 855-613-0620.

Our kind, compassionate staff is standing by to help you.