Crisis Counseling

 Crisis Counseling

By: Jake Kohl

Describe how healing occurs.

     Based on the videos and material for this week’s assignments, in order for healing to occur in an atrocity, one must learn to speak the unspeakable (Landberg, 2007). According to Landberg (2007), she states, “what is unspeakable, must be spoken, the indescribable, must be described” and “that which you most want to forget, is remembered.” Landberg (2007) further says, “That which you cannot bare to say out loud, is spoken.” It’s both the recognition of ones need for healing and a complete and total surrender of the burdens of those in crisis that will begin the healing process.

      Healing begins by removing the stones that are blocking the process of healing. Those stones are such as the traumatic experiences we face on a day to day platform. Healing begins by showing the acts of love that Christ has also showed to us. Giving of ourselves, and suffering with them, through Christ who also suffered for us – bearing the burdens of others (Landberg, 2007).

Where does Paul instruct us to begin our work with victims?

     In the book of 1 Corinthians, the church in Corinth was facing a major crisis. With theological and ethical issues arising, Paul wrote to the church to address this crisis event. He begins by thanking God for them because of his grace that was given to them (v.1). After receiving word that there was a faction within the church that refused to acknowledge his authority, Paul made a personal visit. The church in Corinth was dealing with a host of issues that included disunity, sexual misconduct, idolatry, and their identity. In today’s culture, any one of these issues would cause a crisis event, as it did at Corinth. 

     Paul’s letter address’ the church and instead of coming out and attacking them for their disobedience and lack of faith, he lifts them up by calling them out and says that they were “saints”. He carefully and lovingly reminds them that they were in fact saints who belonged to God and to each other in a far-reaching fellowship. It was normal for Paul to encourage and praise people he worked with, and this letter is no exception. Even though he is going to have to write strong reproof and correction, he begins by affirming the recipients.

     Likewise, our work with victims in crisis begins with prayer, worship, and affirmation of who they are, in Christ. Prayer, is the first step in working with any victim of crisis and/or trauma. Without prayer, we are acting and working on our own accord and against the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Describe an example of something every Christian can do to aid victims of crisis.

     Psychological first aid is the beginning steps of healing. Capt. Jim Nelms, FD/EMS states that “psychological first aid is a pre psychological support state that you may find a person in, where it is everybody’s responsibility to respond to another’s needs”. (Cisney, Nelms, Webb, 2007)

    Psychological first-aid is just as it sounds. Its meeting people where they are during their crisis. Handing someone a bottle of water, clean cloths, or pointing them in a direction that can assist them in their time of crisis are examples of what every Christian can do to aid victims of crisis. Being there for one another and doing the most basic for people can affect the outcome of people in need during a crisis.

References

Cisney, J, Nelms, J, Webb, T. (2007). CRIS 605 Week One Lecture: #1 An overview of emergency mental health and chaplaincy: Panel discussion. [Video Presentation]. AACC: Liberty University Online

Landberg, D. (2007). CRIS 605 Week One Lecture: #2 Trauma and crisis care: Why we serve. [Video Presentation]. AACC: Liberty University Online