Crisis Intervention

Crisis and the Role of a Human Services Professional Practitioner

In 2011–2012, a high school in New York became the epicenter of a crisis when 14 students suddenly began experiencing symptoms of seizures, tics, and stuttering. This crisis, though felt at the individual and family levels, stretched across the whole community as physicians and local officials tried to determine the cause. Community members became fearful of their own children acquiring the mysterious illness, and suspicions regarding environmental pathogens spread.

What would an HSPP’s actions be in such a crisis? And how would they compare to a licensed counselor’s?

In this Discussion, you use an event from the local, national, or international news to help define a crisis. You then consider the role of an HSPP intervening in the crisis you selected.

Research recent events from the local, national, or international news that you would consider to be crises.

Select one that you will use for this Discussion and the Week 2 Discussion.

Describe the example crisis you found from the local, national, or international news (not your own personal crisis). What makes this event a crisis, and what type of crisis is it?

Then, if you were a human services professional practitioner intervening in this crisis, describe how your work and role would be different from that of a licensed mental health counselor.

When might the situation require a licensed counselor?