Grounding Crisis Counseling

We sometimes get callers who are severely dillusional or highly anxious. They talk about things that don't exist in our reality (like the aliens chasing them), or they may be so overwhelmed by what is going on in their lives. Some callers are overwhelmed by their severe pain. We have the folks calling from Napa State Hospital. Talking about specific situations with these kinds of callers can make the person more overwhelmed and prove frustrating to counselor and caller. Grounding techniques focuses the caller on the present and what they have control over. Below are a few suggestions. Check in with your shift partners and trainer for more techniques.

Focusing the call on the caller's feelings about the situation is one possible way of handling the call. "How do the demons on the roof make you feel? It must be really scary. What do you do to cope?"

Focus the call on the present. "What is going on right now that is upsetting you the most?"

Check in about the basic stuff: "Have you eaten today? How have you been sleeping?"

Check in with medication: "Have they taken their prescribed medication?" "What meds are you taking?" "What are the for?" "What time are you suppose to take them?"

Ask the caller if deep breathing would help. Model the deep breathing over the phone and really get the caller to breathe with you.

Some visualizations that focus the caller to ground them in their present location may be helpful. Speak to your trainer for more details on these techniques.

Remind the caller's of their coping skills. "What usually helps when you are feeling this bad?"

Crisis periods are a specific time when a person feels a high level of emotional stress, and a low level of coping skills. Grounding techniques can bring that emotional stress down, and remind the callers of their coping skills so they can push through their crisis period.