Re: Please define the difference between crisis and therapeutic counseling

[Ana Maria Sierra <amsierra@xxxxxxxxx>]

Crisis counseling or therapy is provided when someone is in an acute state, such as a suicidal
client.  The goal is to assess, diagnose, prescribe, and, if possible, restore the individual to
the best level of functioning possible within a limited time period.  The prescription and/or
restoration component may involve hospitalization or it may just as well involve seeing a
treatment provider the very next day as well as a whole assortment of interventions.  

All crisis counseling is or should be therapeutic.  Regular therapy or counseling that does not
involve a crisis typically addresses chronic problems, characterological issues, or what some
refer to as developmental crises which are anticipated to some extent and, perhaps, exacerbated by
stress and various circumstances.  Patients may or may not receive a diagnosis depending on
extraneous factors, including reason for referral, other medical conditions, method of payment,
etc.  People receiving therapy or counseling, however, may experience a crisis in which case the
treatment provider, if available, or another professional will need to address the acute problem
promptly, efficiently, and effectively.  

This is a very brief summary.  Please do not consider it comprehensive.  I think, however, it
should provide you with a sense of the similarities and differences between the two. Please let me
know if I can be of further assistance.

Ana M. Sierra, Ph.D.
Program Director
Child Study and Treatment Center
Tacoma, Washington

--- "Portia Davis, Executive Director" <portia@eurekanet.com> wrote:
> Maybe if I reword my question, I will get more responses.  
> 
> Will someone or many of you please define the difference between crisis counseling and
> therapeutic counseling.  How does one distinguish between the boundaries of crisis and
> therapeutic counseling?  Do both types require that the service provider possess a degree in
> social work, psychology or psychiatry?
> 
> I was told that it is therapeutic counseling if you do the following with a client who is the
> victim of a crime:
> 
> The client is very upset, crying, out of control with the emotions of fear, anger,
> confusion...etc.  It is not at the scene of the crime.  The person is in crisis and is in your
> office.  You are assisting the client to get through the system.  There is going to be a
> prosecution.  The client who will be a witness, makes a statement "everyone is out to get me".
> 
> You have them tell you who everyone is.  You have them or you draw 2 columns on a piece of paper
> and who is against and who isn't is written down.  Soon the client is able to see that "everyone
> is not out to get him/her".
> 
> Is taking a person in crisis through this type of exercise in thinking through one's thoughts 
> administering therapeutic counseling?  Thank you.
> 
> 
> Portia A Davis, Executive Director
> The Ross County Network For Children
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/3648/
> 
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