What is conflict?  We know where it is.  It is located in the interaction between the individual and his total situation.  Essentially, conflict is whatever people think it is.  If the individual or someone else in his total situation thinks or feels that things are not right or are not as they should be, there is conflict.  The point warrants further discussion.  If the individual or someone in his total situation (husband, wife, son, daughter, doctor, minister, teacher, friend, policeman, etc.) thinks or feels that the effect on the individual or on his behavior is not as it ought to be or that something or someone within his total situation is having a negative or an undesirable effect on him, then there is conflict.  Less specifically, if the individual or someone in his total situation thinks or feels that the interaction between the individual and his total situation is messed up or problematic, there is conflict.  In crisis intervention, our orientation is to the individual in crisis.  We will start with his understanding of the conflict, knowing that he is usually the best judge of whether or not there is a conflict.  If he tells us that a conflict exists within his interaction, we will accept the existence of the conflict as a fact.  Alternatively, if someone else in his total situation tells us that there is a serious conflict or crisis, we will initially accept that report as true and follow through with our efforts to understand and resolve the conflict.  This initial intervention may lead us to the conclusion that there really is no crisis and that someone is overreacting, making a big deal over nothing.  Usually though, family, friends, employers, neighbors, police, and others are fairly accurate when they tell us someone is really hurting or is in a crisis.  Our task is to find out for ourselves by evaluating the individual, his total situation, and the interaction.  If there is a crisis, we can help the individual resolve it.  If no crisis exists, our interest and intervention will help the alarmed family, friend, employer, neighbor, police, or others to calm down, better understand the situation, and not worry so much.

Occasionally, especially if we have a professional relationship with the individual, we will be the one who recognizes and points out the existence of the conflict.  But regardless of who recognizes the conflict and initiates intervention, we will continue our intervention process until the conflict is, itself, resolved or until our judgment and experience let us know that there really is no crisis. …

Please press play to continue.