What is crisis counseling?
Crisis counseling is a critical support for our most challenging times. By addressing several key objectives, the process aims to provide urgent relief and pave the way for long-term recovery.
Crisis Situations & Crisis States
A crisis can lead to a crisis state—a psychological condition triggered by significant trauma or the threat of trauma. This state results in disorganization, influenced by internal and external circumstances. The crisis is marked by its duration and intensity, leading to experiences like despair, fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, and depression. Individuals may develop a narrowed focus, seek to escape reality, or lose their sense of purpose, potentially leading to either personal growth or degradation.
A crisis counselor is trained to help individuals navigate these challenging times and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Their primary goal is to stabilize the individual’s emotional state and restore their pre-crisis level of functioning. This is typically achieved through a combination of therapeutic techniques, such as:
- Active Listening: The counselor creates a safe and supportive environment where individuals can express their thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- Emotional Validation: The counselor acknowledges and validates the individual’s emotions, demonstrating empathy and understanding.
- Problem-Solving: The counselor helps the individual identify and address the underlying issues contributing to the crisis.
- Coping Skill Development: The counselor teaches effective coping strategies, such as relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and stress management.
- Crisis Intervention: In severe cases, the counselor may provide immediate intervention to prevent harm to oneself or others.
Objectives of Crisis Counseling
- Reduce Emotional & Physical Reactions: Decrease the intensity of emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral responses to a crisis.
- Restore Pre-Crisis Functioning: Stabilize the emotional state and return to pre-crisis functioning.
- Enhance Coping Skills: Develop new, effective coping mechanisms while eliminating harmful ones.
- Prepare for Future Challenges: Build resilience and improve problem-solving abilities for future difficulties.
The Benefits of Crisis Counseling
- Reduced Emotional Distress: By providing a supportive outlet, crisis counseling can alleviate feelings of anxiety, depression, and overwhelm.
- Improved Coping Skills: By learning new coping strategies, individuals can better manage stress and adversity.
- Enhanced Problem-Solving Abilities: Crisis counseling can help individuals develop the skills to identify solutions and make informed decisions.
- Increased Resilience: By overcoming challenges, individuals can build resilience and be better equipped to handle future stressors.
Our team is dedicated to providing urgent, effective assistance to help you navigate through challenging times. If you need crisis counseling, please complete our online form to request services.
Immediate Support
If you’re experiencing an acute crisis right now, please call the 988 Suicide Hotline, the New Mexico Crisis Line, or 911 Emergency Services. We are not a crisis center and are unable to provide 24/7 support.
Disclaimer: New Mexico Crisis Counseling aims to improve the quality of life for people experiencing critical mental health concerns and the people who love them with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed professionals. The information above is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.