Crisis Intervention: Promoting Resilience and Resolution in Troubled Times

Here is how some reviewers have described the text.

“This text presents a compelling argument that victims of crisis and trauma can recover and grow into strong and healthy survivors.   The text’s emphasis on resilience is an important next step in the evolution of this helping technique.   Its detailed explanation of the techniques that utilize the strength of survivors is valuable for neophytes and experienced helpers alike.   The exercises and discussion questions presented move it from a theory based text into a valuable tool for skill development. This text is a very valuable addition to the literature on crisis intervention.”   Thomas W. Rueth, University of Dayton

“The writing is excellent and well thought out.   The ideas are presented clearly, the stories used in each chapter are excellent, and the authors do an excellent job integrating their stories with the content of each chapter.”   Chris McCarthy, University of Texas at Austin

“Crisis Intervention…stands out as a cutting edge text among books on crisis intervention.   The authors provide an approach to crisis intervention that is broad based and current.   Clearly, the art and science of crisis intervention is conveyed through the use of research, story, literature exemplars, activities, and practical approaches.”   Nicholas Mazza, FloridaStateUniversity

• A focus on understanding and using resilience–as a way to work toward crisis resolution. (See Chapters 1 and 2.)

  • Gives students a solid understanding of research-identified factors that promote positive crisis resolution and discusses the implications of these findings for designing crisis intervention techniques.  It also focuses prospective counselors on resolution rather than trauma and encourages an attitude toward survival that facilitates the natural healing process.

• Extensive use of cases and reproductions of counselor and client dialogue–open windows for students onto actual clinical practice with individuals in crisis.  (See the "Crisis Story" that begins each chapter; you can find examples of this feature on pages 27-28 and 95-96.  See also the "Listening in on Crisis Intervention" features in every chapter; pages 110-111 and 115-116 have examples of this feature.)

  • Provides readers of real examples of clients in crisis and helps model ways to interact with clients, helping readers to understand what to say and how to say it in a particular situation. 

• Four chapters on the crisis intervention process—and the fundamental elements that have been shown to contribute to successful crisis resolution—making contact, making meaning, managing emotions, and envisioning possibilities. (See Chapters 3, 4, 5, and 6.)

  • Walks readers step-by-step through the process of crisis intervention; introduces readers to the notions of “being with” a survivor, constructing survivor “stories,” promoting positive emotions, and setting goals; and helps readers master these critical intervention skills.

• Four chapters on crisis intervention environments and contexts–examine crisis intervention counseling with individuals, with couples and families, with groups, and with communities. (See Chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10.)

  • Assists readers to pull together all of the information from previous chapters and helps them understand how to do crisis intervention counseling in these different contexts.

• Structured practice activities and experiential learning activities in each chapter.  (See the "Experiencing this Idea" feature; you can find examples on pages 6, 12, and 16.  See the "Practicing this Technique" feature; pages 41, 43, and 45 have examples of this feature.  And see as well the "Using this Tool" feature; some of these are on pages 59, 61, and 62.)

  • Helps readers learn by doing and actively engages them in crisis intervention process and technique.