Crisis Intervention

Examples of a critical incident in law enforcement include a sudden death in the line of duty, a serious injury from a shooting, or a physical or psychological threat to the safety or wellbeing of an individual or community, regardless of the type of incident. Furthermore, a critical incident can involve any situation or event faced by law enforcement or a first responder that causes a distressing, dramatic, or profound change or disruption in their physiological or psychological functioning. Typically, unusually strong emotions get attached to the event that can potentially interfere with the individual’s ability to function, either at the crisis scene or away from it, creating short-term crisis reactions (Davis, 1992).

Short-term crisis reactions involve extreme emotional responses in which feelings and thoughts become jumbled and include diverse symptomatology, such as shock, denial, anger, rage, sadness, confusion, terror, shame, humiliation, grief, sorrow, and even suicidal or homicidal ideation. Other reactions include restlessness, fatigue, frustration, fear, guilt, blame, grief, moodiness, sleep disturbance, eating disturbance, muscle tremors or ticks, reactive depression, nightmares, profuse sweating episodes, heart palpitations, vomiting, diarrhea, hyper-vigilance, paranoia, phobic reactions, and problems with concentration or anxiety. Flashbacks and mental images of traumatic events, as well as startle responses, may also be observed. It is important to note that these thought processes and reactions are considered quite normal and expected with crisis survivors, as well as with those assisting them. Some of these symptoms surface quickly and are readily detectable, while others may surface gradually and become long-term crisis reactions. These responses can also be masked within other problems, such as excessive alcohol, tobacco, and/or drug use. Interpersonal relations can become strained, work-related absenteeism may increase and, in extreme situations, divorce can be an unfortunate by-product. Survivor guilt is also quite common and can lead to serious depressive illness or neurotic anxiety (APA, 2013).

Forensic psychology professionals will likely encounter individuals experiencing these types of symptoms when working with law enforcement. Two of the main techniques used by forensic psychology professionals to help address crisis reactions are debriefing and support. Debriefing is designed to assist individuals suffering with the physical or psychological symptoms that are generally associated with trauma exposure. Support on the other hand, includes, but is not limited to, peer-support, on-site support and counseling, long-term counseling, and crisis management training for leaders.

For this Assignment, you will assume the role of a forensic psychology professional focused on mental health who is in charge of implementing the crisis interventions of debriefing and support.For this Assignment, you will assume the role of a forensic psychology professional, focused on mental health, who is in charge of implementing both of the following crisis interventions:

Support

Debriefing

Use the Walden Library and/or the internet to identify and review current research about crisis interventions.


Assume the role of a forensic psychology professional, focused on mental health, who is in charge of implementing both of the following crisis interventions:

Support

Debriefing

Write a 3- to 4-page paper that addresses the following:

Describe approaches that forensic psychology professionals might take to provide support

Describe approaches that forensic psychology professionals might take to provide debriefing

Identify potential challenges that forensic psychology professionals might encounter in these settings. Describe how you might address those challenges.