Trauma and the Abc Model of Crisis Intervention

A description of the ABC model of crisis intervention cannot be complete without an understanding of the nature of a crisis itself. Inherent in a traumatic and often unexpected event is the element of human reaction, which is subject to a variety of factors. Influences such as the psyche of the individual and predisposition towards resiliency, the social and cultural milieu in which crises arise, and the nature and severity of the precipitating event all contribute to the terrifying reality of any traumatic and influential experience. The nature of trauma is endemic to the human experience, and many are specifically rooted in various stages of development, whilst certainly others are not. It can be unequivocally stated that most, if not all human beings, shall inevitably suffer at some point in their lives a developmental crisis or trauma such as divorce, to unexpected and uncontrollable tragedies such as the death of a child. Examples of trauma may range from the unfathomable pain of victims of child abuse or sexual assault, to the collective travesties of fires, mass shootings, racial violence, imprisonment, natural disasters, or political oppression combined with military force, and that suffered by soldiers or refugees of wars. The world is a beautiful yet brutal place and the psyches of its inhabitants malleable. Crisis intervention is an attempt to understand and respond compassionately to the psychological processes which occur in the wake of these very human, very real actions and consequences. It is an attempt to recalibrate the level of functionality of someone who has endured any form of psychological stressor. Encumbent upon crisis intervention professionals is the task of efficiently and effectively identifying the cognitions which result in unmanageable feelings. The human psyche is adaptable, and attempting to return victims of trauma to their previous levels of mental stability is the noble and valuable goal of intervention. The