Some adolescents are vulnerable to crises at home and at school. I will present a conceptualization of crisis as "emotional bleeding and crisis intervention as "emotional first aid" and distinguish these from psychological difficulty and psychotherapy. Also, I will discuss situational and personal factors contributing to crisis experiences, such as intensity of stressor and individual coping ability. I will address The aims of and general strategies in crisis intervention, particularly the need to assess and to act immediately and effectively. Troubled relationships with parents and difficulties such as loss, violence, and abuse can lead directly to crises at home. School can be fraught with learning and social problems. Home and school can, therefore, be the arena in which adolescents experience crises. I will offer specific strategies that help adolescents manage these potential and actual crises. In conclusion, this presentation will emphasize gaining a sound understanding of adolescent issues and responding to them in a sensitive yet firm manner.

Information presented is based, in part, on my experience as a psychologist in a private therapeutic day school. My presentation will include actual crisis situations experienced by adolescents. Because I also conduct therapy with them (i.e., individual, group, and family) and had daily contact with them in a milieu setting, I will provide a time frame and context for these crises: (a) what led up to them (e.g., situationally and interpersonally), (b) how they manifested themselves and what strategies were utilized, and (c) how they turned out over time.

My aims in this presentation are to be informative, relevant, and useful. Participants are encouraged to bring their experiences and questions and to be involved in the discussion of the literature, crisis strategies, and actual cases.