MAC Crisis Intervention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which model of crisis intervention emphasizes that a crisis occurs when a person's usual coping mechanisms fail to resolve a specific stressor?
- Ecological model
- Basic crisis intervention model
- Equilibrium model (Correct answer)
- Cognitive-behavioral model
Correct answer: Equilibrium model
The equilibrium model views crisis as a state of disequilibrium when usual coping strategies are insufficient to restore balance.
Question 2: A client in alcohol withdrawal calls the crisis line reporting severe tremors, confusion, and visual hallucinations. What is the counselor's FIRST priority?
- Assess suicide risk
- Contact the client's sponsor
- Arrange immediate medical evaluation (Correct answer)
- Begin motivational interviewing
Correct answer: Arrange immediate medical evaluation
Severe alcohol withdrawal with hallucinations and confusion indicates delirium tremens, a life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate intervention.
Question 3: In Caplan's four phases of crisis, which phase involves the individual attempting familiar problem-solving strategies that ultimately fail?
- Phase 1
- Phase 2 (Correct answer)
- Phase 3
- Phase 4
Correct answer: Phase 2
In Caplan's Phase 2, the person tries habitual coping methods; when these fail, tension rises and the crisis deepens.
Question 4: When conducting a lethality assessment for a client with co-occurring substance use disorder and suicidal ideation, which factor most INCREASES risk?
- Vague, passive ideation without a plan
- Recent sobriety of six months
- Intoxication combined with a specific lethal plan (Correct answer)
- Strong family support system
Correct answer: Intoxication combined with a specific lethal plan
Acute intoxication combined with a specific, lethal plan dramatically elevates imminent suicide risk in co-occurring disorder clients.
Question 5: Which intervention is MOST appropriate when a client in crisis is experiencing intense emotional flooding and cannot process verbal information?
- Provide detailed psychoeducation about crisis cycles
- Use grounding techniques to reduce physiological arousal (Correct answer)
- Conduct a thorough intake assessment
- Explore childhood trauma history
Correct answer: Use grounding techniques to reduce physiological arousal
Grounding techniques reduce acute physiological arousal, allowing the client to regain sufficient regulation to engage in further intervention.
Question 6: A sponsor calls a crisis line stating their sponsee relapsed after three years of sobriety and is expressing hopelessness. What is the BEST initial response?
- Advise the sponsor to take the sponsee to a meeting immediately
- Gather information about the sponsee's current location and safety (Correct answer)
- Instruct the sponsor to remind the sponsee of their sobriety milestones
- Ask the sponsor to hand the phone to the sponsee
Correct answer: Gather information about the sponsee's current location and safety
Gathering information about the person's location and immediate safety is the essential first step before any other intervention can occur.
Question 7: Which legal doctrine allows a counselor to hospitalize a client against their will when they pose an imminent danger to themselves or others?
- Duty to warn
- Parens patriae (Correct answer)
- In loco parentis
- Respondeat superior
Correct answer: Parens patriae
Parens patriae grants the state authority to act as guardian and allows involuntary hospitalization when someone cannot protect themselves.
MAC Crisis Intervention 2
Which model of crisis intervention emphasizes that a crisis occurs when a person's usual coping mechanisms fail to resolve a specific stressor?