Crisis Counselling BPS304

Crises happens to everyone, and intervention can take many forms, from family helping and support strategies to professional counselling strategies aimed at helping the individual cope with crisis in ways that reduce the negative psychological, physiological and behavioural effects of trauma on that person and his or her environment.

The purpose of crisis counselling is to deal with the person's current status by dealing with a crisis. Chronic exposure to stress or trauma can lead to mental illness. Therefore, it is important that counsellors have the skills and knowledge to help clients cope with their current stressors and trauma. Crisis counselling is not intended to provide psychotherapy or similar, but offers a short-term intervention to helps clients receive assistance, resources, stabilisation and support.

Course Structure: Crisis Counselling BPS304

1. Understanding methods of crisis intervention: What constitutes a crisis and methods of crisis intervention?
2. Ethical, professional and legal issues: Current ethical, professional and legal implications of crisis intervention.
3. Dangers of crises and effective intervention: Dangers posed by crisis to the individual, the counsellor, and those around them. Determining effective modes of intervention.
4. Developmental Crises: Recognising and comprehending crises from a developmental perspective.
5. Post-traumatic stress disorder: Symptoms, treatment options and possible outcomes of post-traumatic stress disorder.
6. Violence and sexual assault: Effects of violence and sexual assault on the individual, and possible modes of intervention.
7. Crisis and drug addiction: Determining the relationship between crises and drug dependence.
8. Family crises: Major issues raises in family crises and appropriate methods of intervention.
9. Crises and cultural issues: Cultural influences on crisis situations.

Aims: Crisis Counselling BPS304

• Identify what constitutes a crisis and to discuss methods of crisis intervention
• Discuss current ethical, professional and legal implications of crisis intervention.
• Explain the dangers posed by crises to the individual, the counsellor and those around them during crisis intervention, and to determine effective modes of intervention.
• Identify and explain crises evolving from a developmental perspective.
• Explain the symptoms, treatment options and possible outcomes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• Describe the effect of violence and sexual assault on the individual and possible modes of intervention.
• Explain the relationship between crises and drug dependence.
• Discuss the major issues that arise in family crises and appropriate methods of intervention.
• Discuss cultural influences on crisis situations.

What you will be doing during this Course

• Role play a critical incident debriefing session
• Familiarise yourselfwith a Counselling Association Code of Conduct
• Interview a counsellor from a community mental health service in your area
• View videos or films, read or listen to stories (where possible) about personal or family crises
• Discuss post-traumatic stress disorder with a community mental health worker
• Explore physical, emotional, cognitive and social responses to sexual assault or violence
• Examine the relationship between trauma and drugs
• Interview or observe people from other cultures to identify cultural and sub-cultural responses to crises
• Explore how sub-cultural groups may require different counselling approaches
• Consider various methods of crisis intervention.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the Academy, marked by the Academy's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.