Intervention Techniques & De-escalation Strategies Flashcards
7 cards from real CIC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Intervention Techniques & De-escalation Strategies flashcards as text
During a telephone crisis intervention, a caller suddenly goes silent. The BEST counselor action is to:
Answer: Gently say the caller's name and ask if they are still there
Gently using the caller's name and checking in maintains connection without pressure, as silence may indicate the person is processing emotions.
The 'columbo technique' in crisis negotiation involves the counselor:
Answer: Feigning confusion or ignorance to encourage the person to explain their perspective
The Columbo technique uses apparent confusion to prompt the person in crisis to elaborate, increasing rapport and revealing critical information.
A client in crisis escalates when a counselor says 'I understand how you feel.' What is the MAIN reason this phrase can be counterproductive?
Answer: It may feel dismissive or presumptuous if the counselor has not had similar experiences
Claiming to fully understand another's feelings can feel invalidating if untrue; 'It sounds like you're feeling...' is more honest and empathic.
Which environmental modification is MOST important when conducting an in-person crisis intervention?
Answer: Removing potential weapons and ensuring clear exit paths for both parties
Removing potential weapons and maintaining safe exit paths protects both the counselor and the client during unpredictable crisis interactions.
In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed crisis intervention, which skill is MOST directly used to reduce emotional intensity in the moment?
Answer: TIPP (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Paired muscle relaxation)
TIPP targets the body's physiology directly, rapidly lowering emotional arousal through biologically-based interventions.
A counselor is working with someone who is threatening harm to a third party. After exhausting de-escalation attempts, which action is MOST appropriate?
Answer: Issue a Tarasoff-style duty-to-warn notification to the intended victim and authorities
The duty-to-warn (Tarasoff principle) requires counselors to notify potential victims and law enforcement when there is a credible, identifiable threat.
Which of the following BEST describes the 'instillation of hope' technique in crisis intervention?
Answer: Highlighting past coping successes and available strengths to build future-oriented thinking
Instillation of hope draws on the client's own history and strengths, which is more credible and sustainable than external promises or statistics.