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Crises Intervention Paper
College of HumanitiesGrand Canyon University
PCN 255, Case Management and Crises Intervention Skills for Addiction and Substance Use
, 2
Crises Intervention Paper
The United States is in the middle of an opioid epidemic according to the experts, “An
estimated 10.3 million Americans aged 12 and older misused opioids in 2018, including 9.9
million prescription pain reliever abusers and 808,000 heroin users” (NIH, 2019). To most
Americans this is very alarming, as many Americans have either been affected personally, or
they know someone who has been affected by the opioid pandemic. To stay safe many of these
Americans will need some crisis intervention. According to MacDonald (2016) the description of
a crisis intervention is “a time-limited intervention with a specific psychotherapeutic approach to
immediately stabilize those in crisis”. In addition, this paper will discuss crisis and its
components, a safety plan for client’s in crisis, legal and ethical responsibilities of a case
manager during a crisis, and in a crisis appropriate intervention strategy.
In a crisis there are several components that need to be addressed. “In mental health
terms, a crisis refers not necessarily to a traumatic situation or event, but to a person’s reaction to
an event” (Cherry, 2020). How a client responds to a crisis will exceptionally influence the
outcome. Signs of crisis that are common but not limited to are: decreased performance at work
or school, lack of personal hygiene, weight gain or loss, sleep habits are altered, mood changes,
and withdrawal from family and friends (Cherry, 2020). There are several things a client can do
in the middle of a crisis but the most common is reaching out for help and finding support.
During a crisis intervention a case manager or counselor should always stay calm, active
listening to the client, make referrals, and follow up with the client (Cherry, 2020).
Allison is a client whose problems started with a recent break up with a boyfriend. Since
the break-up she started drinking heavily and experimenting with marijuana. She has reported
being withdrawn from friends and missing classes on several occasions. She further reports that
Crises Intervention Paper
College of HumanitiesGrand Canyon University
PCN 255, Case Management and Crises Intervention Skills for Addiction and Substance Use
, 2
Crises Intervention Paper
The United States is in the middle of an opioid epidemic according to the experts, “An
estimated 10.3 million Americans aged 12 and older misused opioids in 2018, including 9.9
million prescription pain reliever abusers and 808,000 heroin users” (NIH, 2019). To most
Americans this is very alarming, as many Americans have either been affected personally, or
they know someone who has been affected by the opioid pandemic. To stay safe many of these
Americans will need some crisis intervention. According to MacDonald (2016) the description of
a crisis intervention is “a time-limited intervention with a specific psychotherapeutic approach to
immediately stabilize those in crisis”. In addition, this paper will discuss crisis and its
components, a safety plan for client’s in crisis, legal and ethical responsibilities of a case
manager during a crisis, and in a crisis appropriate intervention strategy.
In a crisis there are several components that need to be addressed. “In mental health
terms, a crisis refers not necessarily to a traumatic situation or event, but to a person’s reaction to
an event” (Cherry, 2020). How a client responds to a crisis will exceptionally influence the
outcome. Signs of crisis that are common but not limited to are: decreased performance at work
or school, lack of personal hygiene, weight gain or loss, sleep habits are altered, mood changes,
and withdrawal from family and friends (Cherry, 2020). There are several things a client can do
in the middle of a crisis but the most common is reaching out for help and finding support.
During a crisis intervention a case manager or counselor should always stay calm, active
listening to the client, make referrals, and follow up with the client (Cherry, 2020).
Allison is a client whose problems started with a recent break up with a boyfriend. Since
the break-up she started drinking heavily and experimenting with marijuana. She has reported
being withdrawn from friends and missing classes on several occasions. She further reports that
