Online Crisis Intervention, Or Face-To-Face Crisis Intervention
In my opinion, both online and face-to-face crisis intervention have benefits and limitations, and both can be effective depending on the individual’s needs and preferences. However, if I had to choose one, I would argue in favor of face-to-face crisis intervention. I believe face-to-face crisis intervention is the most crucial option for someone in a crisis. While online crisis intervention can provide people with anonymity, safety, and access to various services (Watson & Rodrigues, 2018), face-to-face meetings can only offer certain benefits.
One of the most important benefits of face-to-face crisis intervention is building a personal connection with the person in need. In a face-to-face meeting, a counselor or therapist can read body language and facial expressions, ask follow-up questions, and ensure the person in need is heard and understood (Lopez et al., 2019). In addition, face-to-face meetings allow for a more personal and tailored approach to crisis intervention, as the counselor or therapist can adjust the intervention to meet the individual’s unique needs.
Online crisis intervention can provide people with a sense of anonymity and safety, but it can also limit the effectiveness of the intervention. For example, in an online session, the counselor or therapist cannot read “body language and facial expressions, and it cannot be easy to build a personal connection with the person in need” (Geller, 2021). In addition, online sessions may need more personalization essential to effective crisis intervention, as the counselor or therapist may need help to adjust the intervention to meet the individual’s needs.
Ideally, I believe that face-to-face crisis intervention is the most crucial option for someone in a crisis, as it allows the person in need to build a personal connection with the counselor or therapist and receive a more tailored and personalized approach to intervention. If I were in a crisis, I would seek out a face-to-face meeting, as it is the best way to ensure I receive the help and support I need.
References
Geller, S. (2021). Cultivating online therapeutic presence: strengthening therapeutic relationships in teletherapy sessions. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 34(3-4), 687-703.
Lopez, A., Schwenk, S., Schneck, C. D., Griffin, R. J., & Mishkind, M. C. (2019). Technology-based mental health treatment and the impact on the therapeutic alliance. Current psychiatry reports, 21, 1-7.
Watson, H., & Rodrigues, R. (2018). Bringing privacy into the fold: Considerations for the use of social media in crisis management. Journal of Contingencies and Crisis