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Olive B Poliks, M S , N C C., L P.C.,C A D P.
East Aurora High School
500 Tomcat Lane
Aurora, Illinois 60505
(630) 898-0962 ext. 753
The common denominator in all types of stress for Crisis Intervention Personnel is the unrelenting demands d clients and
administrators Personal issues of boundaries and self-care otten became neglected or forgotten. Individuals who daily
confront the emotionally charged problems of life-threatening situations often lack adequate supervision and support. In
addition, unrealistc expectations tram others and themselves are not uncommon. Demands of increased paper work
compound the pressure In addition, these professionals and volunteers often experience pressures of time management, with
too much to do, in too little time, with too III resources. Stability and predictability are luxuries most Crisis Intervention
Personnel do not have A constant barrage of demands and expectations can easily violate every established boundary.
A willingness to change and adapt new behaviors and attitudes are prerequisites to successfully managing conflict and
managing boundaries To simply recognize the problem is the beginning of change. Each person must explore the
possibilities that stress management offers, and experiment with different strategies. Boundary setting is self-responsibility
in action A realistic sense of one's capabilities, a healthy sense of humor, a detached concern for diems, an ability to
delegate responsibility, and, an awareness of one's own legitimate needs are critical in the ability to manage stress
The opposite of stress is balance A balanced life is not only helpful, it is essential Crisis intervention personnel need to
work smarter, not harder, and structure their time as effectively as possible The hardest word to say, practice and adhere to
is "NO."
Individuals who work with chars on a daily basis must learn tic live wRh the discipline of stress management, tire willingness to endure the discomfort d conflict and the self-care needed to maintain boundaries None of these problems will go away. Crisis Intervention Personnel can learn to use the demands of their work as a path to discovering the vast resources that self-exploration provides Managing Conflict and Maintaining Boundaries offers a way for Crisis Intervention Personnel to discover a sense of stability arm even joy in the most stressful crisis