Crisis Intervention

“Whenever people experience an event that disrupts their emotional or psychological balance to the extent that their usual coping mechanisms fail, they are in crisis.”

Our path may cross with people every day that can be in a crisis. Crisis can be easily defined as failed coping mechanisms around an event.  We all have to cope with things, stuff, and events. I would like to say that I am one of those “Super Christians” that can pray my stress away but I am not.  Most people have coping mechanisms to help them deal with stress that keeps them from escalating to crisis mode. Prayer, worship, meditation, and reading are some coping techniques I turn to when stress weighs heavy upon me. That is not to say that an event can’t occur that will cause all coping mechanisms to fail. I am not saying they don’t work in a stressful event but the lack of turning to them can be the disconnect. Sometimes climatic events happen in our lives that derail our normal process of dealing with what comes our way, just ask Job.

A Chaplain has a unique opportunity for ministry in crisis intervention with the general public. Each day brings with it new encounters, to see what presents itself as an opportunity to the Chaplain.  A Chaplain must carry a malleable definition of what a crisis is, every person has different coping levels and reacts to events differently. What you may consider a minor event may be a full-blown crisis to another.

” The crisis may seem minor to some observers, but personal perception of the crisis will determine the distress experencied by the indivual.”

 

 

How many ministry opportunities did

I walk right by like this man on the bench?

 

 

 

“Crisis intervention begins with the ministry of presence and listening.”

As a Chaplin in hospice training, I understand the ministry of presence more now than ever before.  Oft times I visit those in transition and literally not say a word beyond “hello, may I sit with you for a while.”  The man on the bench in the above picture may need nothing more than someone to sit with him.  The ministry of presence is just that, being there for anyone as they process the crisis. I have found just being by a bedside holding the hand (with permission) of a caregiver and or patient brings with it a sense of calm and grounding to those suffering distress. That is not to say every crisis requires only presence, some require listening with no or little response. Listening is more than just hearing, listening is giving your undivided attention eye to eye to the person speaking.  Listening is a learned ministry all to itself! I am sure you have meant someone that was a seasoned listener, it is the one who barely said a word as you were talking but when you were done it felt like a huge weight was lifted off your shoulders or you walked away with a feeling of encouragement.  Listening is a learned skill that requires one to shut off the sub-vocal voice within and focus on the one speaking like they are the only person left on earth at that very moment. Doing so is not something that comes naturally to most people.

     Ministry of presence

• Not necessary to have any answers
• Not necessary to “say the right thing”
• Not necessary to say anything at all
• Just be there
• Your presence is a ministry-a gift of yourself to another

Lastly, there is speaking which requires being sensitive to the person you are ministering to. Remember, how you might respond to the events that caused them to become imbalanced and coping mechanisms to fail may not be how you would respond to the same event.

Key Strategies

• Ventilation & validation of the emotions
• Assessment of needs
• Defusing of emotional overload
• Problem-solving through clarification of possible responses and solutions
• Prayer, personal confession or sacramental ministry

 

Next installment of Crisis Intervention will include providing peace and spiritual health.

 

 

 

(1) All quotes and second set of bullet points originated on -Page 31 -“The Work of the Chaplain”  by Naomi K. Paget & Janet R. McCormick, Publisher: Judson Pr; 1 edition (October 15, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0817014993
ISBN-13: 978-0817014995