Crisis counseling: An overview

Abstract

Psychologists working in schools are often the first contacts for children experiencing a potentially traumatizing event or change in status. This article reviews basic concepts in crisis counseling and describes the components of psychological first aid. This form of counseling must be developmentally and culturally appropriate as well as individualized. Effective intervention can prevent post‐traumatic stress syndrome and facilitate normal mourning processes associated with any losses experienced. These prevention activities are also discussed. Some children may need resources beyond those that the school can provide, and appropriate referrals can link children and adults to a variety of treatments such as psychotherapy and medication, also briefly outlined. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Through the Eyes of the Wounded: A Narrative Analysis of Children’s Sexual Abuse Experiences and Recovery Process

“…Although greater text length is generally associated with older children, the particularly low writing levels in the preadolescent and adolescent groups were noted by the researchers. Other studies have indicated that early childhood trauma can hinder neurocognitive development, resulting in developmental delays, lower intelligence quotient (IQ) scores, and poor school performance (De Bellis, Spratt, & Hooper, 2011;Feather & Ronan, 2009;Sandoval, Scott, & Padilla, 2009). Additional research with a larger sample is needed to confirm the impact of CSA on written expression.…”

“…Children's responses to trauma are different than those of adults; therefore, counseling interventions must reflect these distinct differences (Feather & Ronan, 2009;Sandoval et al, 2009;Tomlinson, 2008). In the current study, children openly discussed their thoughts and feelings about counseling.…”

Writing a Commemoration: A Technique for Restoring Equilibrium After a Crisis

“…Crisis intervention has been described as emergency first aid (Ehly, 1986). Those who are at particular risk for severe distress include those who are physically close to the event, exposed to the event for a long duration, or close to the victim of the trauma (Sandoval, Scott, & Padilla, 2009). In schools, depending on the nature of the crisis and the number of students affected, counselors from other schools, districts, and agencies outside the school system may be recruited to assist in crisis management and in supporting students and faculty.…”

The Crisis Response to a School-Based Hostage Event: A Case Study

“…Other literature in the area of school-based crisis relates to proposed crisis team structure and response models and curricula. These include Psychological First Aid (Sandoval, Scott, & Padilla, 2009), the National Organization for Victim's Assistance (NOVA) model (Young, 1998), and the PREPaRE model (Brock, Nickerson, Reeves, & Jimerson, 2008).…”