Crisis Intervention in Children

Erikson believed that crisis was a part of development, and with support, crisis can be resolved and not lead to future problems. Children with many supports handle crisis most effectively.

Crisis Intervention is:
Appraisal focused; understanding the event
Problem focused; problem solving
Emotion focused; manage feelings

When working with a child who has experienced a crisis:

• "begin counseling immediately" (p. 10)


• help the child understand what happened, "confront reality" (p. 10)


• help child mobilize any supports they may have


• look for other stresses to relieve


• do not give false reassurance or security


• "encourage self reliance" (p. 15)

Adapted from:
Conceptualizations and General Principles of Crisis Counseling, Intervention, and Prevention. Handbook of crisis counseling, intervention, and prevention in the schools. 2nd ed. Mahwah, N.J. : L. Erlbaum Associates.