TSS TSS Crisis Intervention & De-escalation Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which verbal de-escalation technique involves a practitioner calmly restating what the individual said to demonstrate understanding and reduce emotional intensity?
- Confrontation
- Paraphrasing (reflective listening) (Correct answer)
- Psychoeducation
- Positive reinforcement
Correct answer: Paraphrasing (reflective listening)
Paraphrasing or reflective listening feeds back the person's words in a slightly modified form, signaling understanding and helping to lower arousal.
Question 2: During a crisis encounter, which non-verbal behavior by a TSS specialist is MOST likely to reduce escalation?
- Maintaining continuous direct eye contact to show authority
- Standing directly in front of the individual with arms crossed
- Positioning yourself at a slight angle at eye level with an open posture (Correct answer)
- Speaking loudly and firmly to convey control
Correct answer: Positioning yourself at a slight angle at eye level with an open posture
A slight angle at eye level with an open posture is less confrontational and conveys respect, which helps de-escalate heightened emotional states.
Question 3: When conducting a suicide risk assessment during crisis intervention, the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is used to measure:
- The severity and intensity of suicidal ideation and behavior on a structured scale (Correct answer)
- A client's readiness for inpatient hospitalization
- The presence of command auditory hallucinations
- Depression symptom severity over the past two weeks
Correct answer: The severity and intensity of suicidal ideation and behavior on a structured scale
The C-SSRS is a validated, structured tool that quantifies the severity of suicidal ideation and tracks suicidal behavior across a spectrum.
Question 4: A TSS specialist should consider involving emergency services (calling 911) during a crisis when:
- The client expresses any level of sadness or distress
- The individual presents imminent danger to themselves or others and cannot be safely managed otherwise (Correct answer)
- The client refuses to engage in a safety plan discussion
- A mandated reporting concern arises that can be addressed during business hours
Correct answer: The individual presents imminent danger to themselves or others and cannot be safely managed otherwise
Emergency services are warranted when there is imminent risk that cannot be safely managed through clinical crisis intervention alone.
Question 5: A trauma-informed crisis response differs from a traditional crisis response primarily in that it:
- Focuses exclusively on symptom reduction
- Incorporates awareness of how trauma history affects crisis presentation and avoids re-traumatization (Correct answer)
- Requires a formal diagnosis before intervention begins
- Emphasizes rapid discharge over stabilization
Correct answer: Incorporates awareness of how trauma history affects crisis presentation and avoids re-traumatization
Trauma-informed crisis response recognizes trauma's role in current distress, prioritizes safety and choice, and avoids practices that could re-traumatize the individual.
Question 6: Grounding techniques used during acute crisis stabilization are intended to:
- Help the individual reconnect with the present moment and reduce dissociation or overwhelming emotion (Correct answer)
- Provide long-term trauma processing
- Establish a therapeutic relationship over multiple sessions
- Document the incident for legal purposes
Correct answer: Help the individual reconnect with the present moment and reduce dissociation or overwhelming emotion
Grounding techniques anchor the individual in the present, counteracting dissociation and emotional flooding common during acute trauma responses.
Question 7: The Danger Assessment tool (DA), developed by Jacquelyn Campbell, is specifically designed to assess the risk of:
- Suicidal ideation in adolescents
- Femicide (intimate partner homicide) in abusive relationships (Correct answer)
- Workplace violence by a disgruntled employee
- Self-harm behaviors in trauma survivors
Correct answer: Femicide (intimate partner homicide) in abusive relationships
The Danger Assessment was developed to evaluate a woman's risk of being killed by an intimate partner, guiding safety planning in domestic violence situations.
TSS TSS Crisis Intervention & De-escalation Questions and Answers 2
Which verbal de-escalation technique involves a practitioner calmly restating what the individual said to demonstrate understanding and reduce emotional intensity?