Crisis Case Management Paper
Hadley Willson
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Author Note
Hadley Willson
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Hadley Willson. Email:
hewillson@liberty.edu.
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Nature of the Crisis
Audiences first meet Renee in the seventh episode of season one of the A&E drama
Intervention (Mettler, 2005). An individual's internal response to a danger from the outside is
frequently referred to as a crisis (Week one, lecture one: PACO 604 - Introduction to Crisis
Counseling). Bulimia affects Renee, a young mouthy person. Renee's situation is far more
complex than simply her current eating disorder problem, though. According to Johnson &
Johnson (2014), Bulimia Nervosa was initially identified in the 1950s and is characterized by
episodes of binge eating that are followed by self-induced vomiting or other compensatory
actions (p. 167). During the program viewing, it becomes clear that Renee’s bulimia is caused by
negative thoughts she has had since she was sexually abused as a child. These feelings continued
into much of her early adulthood as the abuse theme permeated her story and robbed her of the
capacity to love herself. Renee appears to be experiencing several different types of crises.
Renee was unable to maintain emotional control because she was unable to see past the
injustices she had experienced. This crisis might be categorized as an existential crisis if there are
internal conflicts over a person's caring values (Week one, lecture one: PACO 604 - Introduction
to Crisis Counseling). According to Johnson & Johnson, Renee suffered from depression, low
self-esteem, and an obsession with how ugly she perceived herself to be. She believed that her
binge eating was abnormal, but she was unable to stop it (2014). After bingeing, Renee would
feel bad about what she had done since food had become her sole means of numbing her
emotions. Her life was being controlled by an unhealthy eating disorder. In addition to taking
laxatives and diuretics, Renee would make an effort to conceal her food intake from her family.
Her problems have gotten so bad that she is now acting irrationally toward her family as a result
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of mood swings, sadness, and anxiety. As a result of communication issues or unresolved
conflict, the crisis now shifts to an interpersonal level and affects both people and groups (Week
one, lecture one: PACO 604 - Introduction to Crisis Counseling).
Alleviating the Crisis
Renee’s family and friends are in a desperate state. It is imperative to approach her about
her eating issue and offer an emergency intervention, even though doing so may momentarily
hurt her feelings and cause discomfort. Crises like Renee's are regarded as perilous and may
result in serious health problems or even death. Given the urgency of interventions, everyone
involved may experience a great deal of anxiety (Wright, 2011, p. 161).
Renee’s present issue must be resolved while also taking into account her eating disorder
and the underlying causes that have led to its long-term development. “Listening is a crucial part
of counseling” (Wright, 2011, p. 29). Using active listening will be necessary to assist this family
and Renee in overcoming this difficulty. Renee has talked about many difficulties in her life that
she has never fully resolved, and it is unlikely that her communication with others will become
any better until she deals with each one and is able to alter her underlying beliefs.
To begin alleviating the crisis, the Pastoral Crisis Intervention Model may be utilized.
The “SAFER-R” algorithm serves as the foundation of this concept. First, by introducing him or
herself and outlining one’s position in the crisis, the pastoral counselor can help to stabilize the
situation. The next step would be to recognize the incident by hearing the story’s events. The
third component is to make comprehension easier. This would entail promoting emotional
expression and assisting in the comprehension of the crisis’' effects. Promoting successful coping
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is the fourth element of The Pastoral Crisis Intervention Model. This is the moment to decide on
personal stress-reduction strategies. Moreover, it would be beneficial to start searching for and
finding external resources and coping strategies. This philosophy promotes that the individual
should experience personal progress and seek new purpose in life (Week two, lecture three:
PACO 604 - Models of Crisis Care).
Teaching Coping Skills
Several techniques might need to be used to educate Renee effective coping skills.
Johnson and Johnson (2014) offer effective therapy suggestions, including cognitive-behavioral,
behavioral, and other group psychotherapies. She will be given tasks in these therapies to address
her self-image, self-evaluation, distorted body image, and understanding of optimal weight and
body fat amounts. Family therapy, in addition to individual treatment, may be a vital component
of Renee's healing (Johnson & Johnson, 2014).
The CISM/CISD technique may also be useful in pastoral counseling to uncover the
fundamental difficulties and assist People in working through them. Critical Incident Debriefing
(CISD) is a technique that helps people who are stressed to confront the trauma of the situation
and deal through unresolved emotions. Renee has a slew of unsolved issues stemming from her
mother's desertion and physical and sexual abuse. She must overcome her feelings of
abandonment and hurt to get control of her eating condition. She can advance in this direction by
adopting this model.
Developing Resiliency
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To build her resilience, Renee will need to undergo numerous tasks. She must first
establish a solid support network and identify it. The Intervention episode makes it clear that
Renee's husband, sister, and friend all care her and are there for her. They are all, meanwhile,
also concerned about offending and hurting her feelings. It may be quite beneficial to combine
group support with preceptive confrontation of peers who have comparable behaviors and mental
processes (Johnson & Johnson, 2014, p. 46). Renee might also need to look for a group of
individuals outside of her comfort zone to obtain the kind of support she needs to keep moving
forward with her rehabilitation.
Finally, Renee can cultivate resilience by participating in a support group. This resource
may be discovered within the walls of a local church. For the most of her life, Renee has been a
victim. She must learn to let go of that perception in order to enjoy the life that God has planned
for her. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes
from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth,” declares Psalm 121. In the Lord, Renee can find
all the courage and strength she will ever need.
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References
Mettler, Sam. (Creator). (2005). Peter and Renee. (Season 1, Episode 7). In Branton, Michael &
Ben, Gary R. (Executive Producers), Intervention. [TV Series Documentary]. GRB
Entertainment. https://play.aetv.com/shows/intervention/season-1/episode-7.
Johnson, W. & Johnson, W. (2014). The Minister’s Guide to Psychological Disorders and
Treatments. Routledge.
Wright, H. Norman. (2011). The Complete Guide to Crisis and Trauma Counseling: What to Do
and Say When It Matters Most! Bethany House Publishers.
Liberty University Online Presentation. PACO 604: Crisis Intervention in Pastoral Counseling.
Week one, lecture one: PACO 604 - Introduction to Crisis Counseling. Liberty
University. https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/422483/pages/watch-introduction-to-crisis-
counseling?module_item_id=45549985.
Liberty University Online Presentation. PACO 604: Crisis Intervention in Pastoral Counseling.
Week two, lecture three: PACO 604 - Models of Crisis Care. Liberty University.
https://canvas.liberty.edu/courses/422483/pages/watch-models-of-crisis-care?
module_item_id=45550087.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. (1984). Zondervan Publishing House.
