It is important to note that trauma, disaster, and crisis are interrelated concepts, which require specifically targeted interventions and counseling measures in order to achieve a positive outcome for clients. Trauma can be defined as an emotional response to a negative stimulus or event, which is harmful to an individual either physically or emotionally (Pau et al., 2020). A crisis is a state of imbalance or disequilibrium, where a person can no longer utilize his or her internal coping mechanisms and resources to deal with the stressors (Pau et al., 2020). There are several crises intervention and suicide prevention models.
For instance, trauma-informed practice or care is primarily centered around creating learning networks as well as promoting traumatology interest among care and service providers by enabling a deeper understanding of the underlying intricacies of the issue through proper definitions and techniques (Pau et al., 2020). Psychological first aid is the most standard approach when responding to crisis events, where Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is to be utilized in order to prioritize the provision of physical and safety needs before transitioning to emotional stabilization efforts (Pau et al., 2020).
The overall recognition of the effect of crises, traumas, and disasters is done by the identification of symptoms. These effects and symptoms on an individual might include comorbid diagnoses, such as substance abuse and depression, interpersonal distress, and suicidality (Pau et al., 2020). The setting can also affect whether crisis intervention or therapy is appropriate since interventions are limited in time, whereas therapies can span weeks. The key principles of crisis interventions are understanding clients’ needs through listening and analyzing their perspectives, which is followed by psychological and physical danger minimizations to ensure safety. Lastly, the aid needs to provide informational, instrumental, and emotional support for the clients.
Reference
Pau, K., Ahmad, A., & Tang, H. Y. (2020). Crisis, disaster, and trauma counseling: implications for the counseling profession. Journal of Critical Reviews, 7(8), 736-739. Web.