Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

4. What was the person feeling and thinking before, during, or immediately after
the event? What have been their feelings and thoughts about the situation
since then?
5. Clarify the person's reaction. Identify what had the most impact on them—the
worst aspect of it for them—what part of the experience has made it the most
difficult for them to deal with the situation.
6. What has been their emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral response to
the crisis. Use the aforementioned symptoms to help them identify their
response by breaking it down. Seeing that there are parts to what they are
experiencing makes it more manageable and creates choices for them. They
may feel more capable of dealing with one issue than another, and being in a
position to make a choice gives a feeling of control which also contributes to
progress toward working through and resolving of the crisis.
7. Interventions
A. Educate the person regarding the range of experience accompanying a crisis.
B. Identify strengths. Provide support for strengths and facilitate understanding how
these can be utilized in the current situation.
C. Identify vulnerabilities. Facilitate problem solving to avoid, strengthen, or reframe
these issues.
D. How have they coped with difficult situations and crises in the past?
E. How do they view their own ability to cope, and why?
F. Educate them on how prior crisis experiences that are unresolved may act in
concert with the current crisis to create a cumulative effect. In other words, not all
of what they are currently experiencing may be due to the recent crisis.
G. Educate regarding the working through stages for resolution of a crisis. Also,
educate regarding the importance of developing a self-care program to improve
coping while dealing with and resolving crisis issues.
8. Resolution
SELF-CARE BEHAVIORS
146 2. Assessing Special Circumstances
As a client reaches the end stages of crisis resolution summarize what they have experienced,
what they have learned and resolved. Review their self-care plan, including resources and
"red flags" that might be a signal to regression. Give feedback regarding their recovery
within the context of a normal response and focus on the positives and internal resources as
they prepare to terminate.
Develop a personalized self-care plan for optimal results. This does require a commitment
to health and follow through. It is recommended that there be a medical exam for medical
clearance, as well as providing the opportunity for a medication evaluation which may be
useful in dealing with unmanageable symptoms following a crisis.
1. Utilize relaxation techniques to decrease body tension and stress level.
2. Process the experience by:
A. Utilizing your support system. Talking about the experience and how you have been
affected. Don't isolate and withdraw. Instead spend time with people who offer a
feeling of comfort and care.