Crisis Intervention in Social Work

Theoretical Approaches to Intervention 1. Crisis Intervention In social work,

engaging with clients across different settings often involves facing crises. Crisis intervention

is now a well-established practice with a theoretical foundation. Drawing from psychodynamic principles,

it seeks to strengthen the client’s internal psychological resources by fostering a supportive personal relationship

that highlights and builds on their coping strategies. According to Caplan (1964),

crisis occurs when individuals become more dependent on external support than at other times

in their lives. It involves three distinct phases: Impact: Recognition of a threat.

Recoil: Attempts to regain balance fail, leaving the person stressed and discouraged.