Striking A Balance When Students Are Upset: Is It A Need For Empathic Listening Or A Crisis? Lisa Thompson-Gibson, M.A. Student Affairs Professional Development Mini-Conference Thursday, July 14, 2016
What Is A Crisis? A state where the demands on a person temporarily overwhelm usual coping resources Subjective distress Impaired functioning Social Work/Academic Related Emotional Physical
Crisis Principles Crises are universal Crises are time-limited Crises are not necessarily negative in outcome There are many different kind of crises Situational Academic Developmental Relational A crisis issue for one person may not be for someone else
What You May Observe Intense crying Feelings of helplessness and/or hopelessness expressed Intense anxiety and/or depression Report of a loss or a traumatic event Disorganized thoughts/speech Direct or subtle references to suicide
What Do People In Crisis Need? A listening ear A here-and-now focus Awareness of coping strategies Typical (What’s helped them before?) Current (What might help now?) Problem-solving options Additional resources
Positive and Negative Coping Reflect on a crisis you have personally experienced and how you reacted. How did your feelings and reactions inform negative or active coping skills? Source: http://unstressyourself.com
Listening/Communicating Tips Calm voice with an even pace Prompts and sentence stems (“Can you tell me what that was like?” Or “When X happened you felt…” Empathy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw&index=2&list=PLmH mICyEzbjZELowSuV5_mM6Xv1kJ_wDc Avoid passing judgment Educate about crises Summarize options Take notes while you talk Names, phone numbers, location, statements
Help For The Helper You are not the only source for help Know about referral and backup resources Ask, “What’s my role?” Understand your limits in responsibility Consult, consult, consult The buddy system Use your supports Practice self-care
Local Resources SIUE Police Department 911 for emergencies or 618-650-3324 SIUE Counseling Services (for students) 618-650-2842 http://www.siue.edu/counseling/ SIUE EAP (for faculty and staff) http://www.illinois.gov/cms/employees/benefits/pages/employeeassist anceprogram.aspx SIUE Confidential Advisor for Sexual Assault Survivors – Lindsay Serrano 618-650-5664 Provident Counseling (St. Louis) 314-647-HELP (4357) Chestnut Health Systems (Belleville and Granite City) 618-877-0316 Centerstone (Alton) 618-462-2331 Gateway Regional Medical Center (Granite City) 618-798-3888 Call For Help Sexual Assault Victims’ Care Unit 618-397-0975
National Resources Suicide Prevention Lifeline Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 Trevor Project Lifeline 1-866-488-7386 Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860 LGBTQ partner abuse & sexual assault helpline 1-866-356-6998
Additional Questions & Information Lisa Thompson-Gibson, M.A. Counselor Suicide Prevention iCare Project Coordinator SIUE Counseling Services (618) 650-2842 lithomp@siue.edu