Liberty University
Crisis Case Management
Paper
PACO 604
Lisa A. Thomas
April 26, 2023
After watching a 45-minute full episode of a crisis case via a video link, in which
I had the opportunity to witness several families in crisis. I observed the intervention
of Latisha a 39-year-old female from Kalamazoo Michigan and her family who stepped
in as an attempt to save her life from a long time addiction to crack cocaine. I selected
Latisha because I found her very interesting because like so many people who
wrestled with an addiction she was felt she was sitting on top of the world not
realizing she was in a downward spiral. I will provide crisis intervention using the
models of crisis intervention discussed in the textbooks by Floyd and Wright.
Nature of the Crisis
The nature of the crisis stems from Latisha’s childhood. There were several perilous
events that played a major role in Latisha’s present crisis situation: Latisha was born to
young parents. Both of her parents were addicted to heroin. Wright says “A hazardous
event is an occurrence that starts a chain reaction of events that culminates in a crisis
(Wright, 2011, 129). And when she was 4 her mother robbed a bank to supply her drug
habit. Her mother was then incarcerated and Latisha was then sent to live with her
grand parents. There with her grandparents although she had a good quality of life she
was alone. So at the age of 14 she moved in with her boyfriend who lived in a drug
infested home. At the tender age of 15 she was introduced to cocaine and from that
point began the downward spiral in Latisha’s life. When she was 16 she married the
man who then continued to supply her with the drugs she was then addicted too. She
was at a point at a young age where she was in crises. Are turning points where
counselees can possibly move toward growth, enrichment and improvement; or it can
move towards dissatisfaction, pain, and in some cases, dissolution. (Wright, 2011,
128)” (Wright, 2011, 129) Then Latisha began to have children and the stress of family
life in addition to the addiction caused her to go deeper into the already bad situation
she was in. To the point
where her children no longer were as important to her as the drugs.
Latisha’s Uncle said as a child she was a vibrant young girl always happy but was
missing the love from her parents. Unfortunately the love she received from her
grandparents could not replace nor be a sub situation fro her biological parents.
Her mother who herself was addicted to drugs found it hard to bring correction
to her daughter because although she knew what was right she felt guilty for
leaving her at such a young age. Latisha was spending over $1400.00 per week
in her crack cocaine habit. She prostituted her body for $1200.00 per week. She
has been raped, beaten up, abused but she continues because she needs to
support her habit. One of her children even supports her habit because he does
not want her to go out in the streets. Her mother also allows her to use drugs in
her home and will give her money for drugs if she asks for it because she is
afraid to stand up and tell her no because of her own guilt. She is quickly
heading down the road to destruction. Her family is fearful one day they will
receive a knock on the door or a phone call stating she is dead. Therefore the
family is asking for intervention immediately.
Alleviating the Crisis
In order to alleviate this particular crisis Latisha’s family seeks immediate intervention.
The first step in crisis counseling is immediate intervention. Crises are perceived as
dangers. They are threatening to those involved, and there is a time limit to the
opportunity for intervention. This is the time of turmoil with a high level of distress.
(Wright, 2011, 161)
The immediate need for intervention is now because if she continues to use crack
the way she is it can ultimately cause crack cocaine increases the risk that the user
will experience a heart attack, stroke, seizure or respiratory (breathing) failure, any
of which can result in sudden death. The ultimate goal is to put Latisha in a place
where she realizes she needs help and assist her to the road to recover. This will be
her second attempt at recovery. She went to rehab once before and was ding well for
5 years. Then she became pregnant with her 3rd child and relapsed under the stress.
She at this time feels she cannot be help so it will take lots of love and patience from
her family to walk her through this process. Stress and crises are often
interconnected, although not always. (Floyd, 2008, 97) To assist Latisha in facing her
drug abuse problem we must first help
her admit that she has a problem that is affecting not only herself but her family
too. Therefore by implementing the Crisis Ministry Model provided by Floyd.
The beginning point of the Crisis Ministry Model understands the role that stress
may play in a crisis situation. (Floyd, 2008, 97) After careful observation, stress plays
a crucial role in Latisha’s crisis situation. Stress results when one object pushes,
pulls, or exerts force against another object. Too many things from Latisha’s
childhood are the result of the stress she was feeling that caused her to turn to drugs.
. We need to help Latisha to deal with the things that cause her to turn to drugs.
Teaching Coping Skills
To assist Latisha I will get the help of the CISM/CISD approach. The Critical Incident
Stress Debriefing (CISD) will help through the process following a crisis event. It will
help because it is a method in assisting Latisha cope with all of the incidents from her
past that caused the crisis and trauma that she currently deals with. When Latisha went
to rehab the first time it was the stress of having another baby that caused her to
relapse. Therefore helping her identify the root of her issues will be key in the recovery
process. It is the first step in the intervention process for Latisha. She needs to face the
loss from her past. Although her parents were not deceased the trauma of being taken
from her home as a young girl by child protective servces when her mother went to jail
caused her to build up a shield. It is a feeling of loss and abandonment that she has
experienced and it is time for her to get through this and move on. So finding a way to
deal with the stress will be important. Following this model will be a step in the right
direction in the healing process. She needs to face the challenges without drowning the
hurts of her past in drugs. That is only a mask. Dealing with the abandonment and loss
is instrumental in the healing process. And to point her in the right direction. The road to
recovery is long but she needs to build the resiliency so she can begin to bounce back
when she has stressful situations. Ultimately allowing her to heal from the hurts of her
past.
Developing Resiliency
Latisha does not have a lack of self-confidence. She is very securing in who she
is while she is using drugs the challenge is building up the woman she is without
the addiction. She needs to unveil he true identity, which is going to take time in
recovery. She has lived in a fantasyland so long that she actually believes she does
not have a problem. Therefore undoing everything she has believed up until this
point is going to take dedication from not only herself but her family as well. That
is going to take great pains as a counselor in making her resilient. Resiliency
allows one to endure through the circumstances. Once again because she had had
a problem in the past it is important to channel in on the areas that could
potentially cause her to go back to her old ways and assisting her with the coping
mechanism needed for because she has to be able to function as a mother and
daughter with out the dependency of a substance. So assisting her to become a
better woman one step at a time assisting her to helping her find the resolutions
that will make her successful is important because a life without drugs is a better
bringing for her entire family. We know that though God all things are possible if
you believe and it is important that she is guided back to her family. This process
will take one step at a time.
References
1.Floyd, S. (2008). Crisis counseling: A guide for pastors and professionals.
Grand Rapids, Mich: Kregel Academic & Professional.
2. Wright, H. Norman (2011). The complete Guide to Crisis & Trauma Counseling: What
to do and say when it matters. Venturea, Cali: Regal
