Although crisis intervention and solution-focused therapy come from dis- tinct therapeutic traditions, they do have commonalities. For instance, crisis intervention perceives most crises as self-limiting in that the state of disequi- librium usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks (Parad & Parad, 1990). Consequently, crisis work tends to be immediate, short-term, and intense. A solution- focused approach also emphasizes a rapid and brief response to clients’ help- seeking effort.
Although a solution-focused approach assumes clients already have re- sources and strengths and that the purpose of intervention is to help clients successfully deal with their presenting problem(s) by utilizing what they bring with them to the treatment situation, it does not deny that at times a more direct approach may be necessary. A solution-focused approach en- courages clients to look for exceptions to the problem and do more of the exception-maintaining patterns. A crisis event, however, may be so novel that new coping and problem-solving skills are needed. In a solution-focused approach, if no exceptions can be found, clients are encouraged to do some- thing different. In fact, one of the basic tenets of solution-focused therapy is “If it works, do more of it. If it doesn’t work, don’t do it again, do some- thing else” (de Shazer et al., 1986, p. 212). In addition, even a solution- oriented crisis worker may need to actively provide concrete services, practi- cal support, information, and other interventions that will help alleviate cli- ents’ immediate disequilibrium in their life situation—actions that are not emphasized in a typical solution-focused approach. The authors of this chap- ter, however, encourage crisis workers, whenever possible, to not use a direct approach too quickly before trying a solution-focused approach. A more direct approach may quickly resolve the presenting crisis but may not leave the client with a greater sense of strength, competence, and empowerment.
Experience, skilled judgment, flexibility, and individualized treatment may best describe the wisdom required in using a solution-focused approach
to crisis intervention. For many years now, the crisis intervention literature has recognized the “opportunity” inherent in a crisis situation: A person can experience notable personal growth if the situation is handled successfully (Caplan, 1964). This chapter adopts a strengths perspective operationalized by the use of solution-focused therapy integrated with crisis intervention. It is assumed that clients, in spite of their crisis situation, come with a diverse repertoire of strengths and skills that they are not currently noticing. In solu- tion-focused crisis intervention, clients are assisted in discovering and ampli- fying their strengths and resources—an intervention approach that envisions clients’ new learning and strengths through the passage of life. This approach provides clinicians with a systematic way to work with clients’ strengths and resilience to help them handle crises and experience personal growth and development.
There are numerous reports in the literature of successfully using solution- focused therapy with clients in crisis and difficult situations such as those who are suicidal (Sharry, Darmody, & Madden, 2002; Softas-Nall & Fran- cis, 1998), have a serious mental disability (Hagen & Mitchell, 2001; Rhodes & Jakes, 2002; Rowan & O’Hanlon, 1999; Schott & Conyers, 2003), are physically disabled (Johnson & Webster, 2002), have experienced trauma (O’Hanlon & Bertolino, 1998), child abuse or neglect (Berg & Kelly, 2002), domestic violence (Lee, Sebold, & Uken, 2002, 2003), and self-harm (Selek- man, 2002). The authors believe that a solution-focused approach to crisis intervention is the treatment of choice in the majority of crisis situations. Currently, there are no well-designed studies documenting the effectiveness of a solution-focused/strengths-based approach to crisis intervention. How- ever, one of the authors in a previous job at a crisis hotline documented that shortly after introducing solution-focused techniques to the staff, the time spent on the telephone with chronic callers decreased from 1,000 minutes to 200 minutes in a 1-month period. Only future research can shed light on what this dramatic decrease means and whether it can be attributed to the use of a solution-focused approach.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Portions of this chapter are adapted from G. J. Greene, M. Y. Lee, R. Trask, & J. Rheinscheld (1996), Client strengths and crisis inter- vention: A solution-focused approach. Crisis Intervention and Time-Limited
Treatment, 3, 43–63.
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