In considering the now potential in crisis, emphasis is first given to the potential, which refers to what might or could happen.  What is the worst possible outcome of the crisis?  Could the individual or someone else in his total situation die?  Could someone get hurt?  Could there be some other similarly serious consequence?  Could the individual’s situation become so deteriorated or so permanently messed up that no amount of help or concern could return it to its pre-crisis state?  The potential of the crisis lies somewhere between no bad consequences or effects and the serious injury or death of someone in the total situation.

The now in the now potential refers to the immediacy or emergency quality of the crisis.  We need to know how quickly things might deteriorate or get worse.  How quickly might the potential be actualized?  Will it take a week, a few days, a few hours, or could the worst possible outcome occur almost immediately?  This how soon is the now in the now potential.  As we intervene into crises by trying to find out what happened and by developing a picture of the individual, his total situation, and the interaction between the two, we simultaneously need to consider and develop a judgment about the now potential of the crisis.  How bad could it get?  How soon? …

Press play to continue.