Diva Foundation

Program for Crisis Intervention

A big part of the women, who have appealed to the Service for Support for help, come in a state of a dead-lock, provoked by a recent assault or some other kind of violence or taken as a whole- by an event in their life, which they feel they cannot cope with. This is usually accompanied by a feeling for a necessary change and at the same time with confusion, exhaust, fear and impotence.

In a crisis situation, especially when life is threatened, women usually do not manage to make a real assessment of the situation and to act deliberately so that they could protect themselves. They do not know what measures to take in order to guard themselves and their children, because they are obsessed by fear of the violator. Together with the counselor the woman prepares a plan for evaluation of the action possibilities for overcoming the crisis in conformity with the woman’s resources, her supportive environment and the evaluation of the risk for her and her children’s safety. This helps the woman feels prepared and safe in crisis moments so that she could make an appropriate decision for overcoming the situation.

The crisis intervention goes within a number of sessions for a short period of time. Its expedience is of great importance. Its main aims are orientated towards:

1. Reducing the degree of anxiety and the sense of social isolation.
2. Providing emotional support.
3. Assessment of the client’s specific immediate needs.
4. Prompt reduction of the risk of her life and health.
5. Giving information of the opportunities which the law, institutions and the other services afford to her.
6. Detailed analysis of the problem and support for the generation of possibilities for solving it – working out a plan of action.
7. Support in fulfilling the plan.

Usually woman’s immediate needs are orientated towards finding a secure environment, a lodging, where she (as well as her children) could feel safe, providing medical care and arranging the particular steps she wants to take. In many cases it is necessary that the woman should be referred to a shelter.